--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The odd thing about tradition is, the…" description: "\"The odd thing about tradition is, the longer it's been going, the more people seem to take it seriously - as though sheer passage of time makes somethi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/richard-dawkins-115_believe_the-odd-thing-about-tradition-is-the-lon_2737786.jpg" --- # The odd thing about tradition is, the longer it's been… ![“The odd thing about tradition is, the longer it's been going, the more people seem to take it seriously - as though sheer passage of time makes something which to begin with was just made up, turns it into what people believe as a fact.” quote by Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/richard-dawkins-115_believe_the-odd-thing-about-tradition-is-the-lon_2737786.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/richard-dawkins-115_believe_the-odd-thing-about-tradition-is-the-lon_2737786.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/richard-dawkins-115_believe_the-odd-thing-about-tradition-is-the-lon_2737786.jpg) > “The odd thing about tradition is, the longer it's been going, the more people seem to take it seriously - as though sheer passage of time makes something which to begin with was just made up, turns it into what people believe as a fact.” [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Traditions gain perceived legitimacy merely through longevity, not through evidence. **In simple terms:** Time does not make ideas true. Key Takeaway Question the basis of long‑standing beliefs. Themes tradition belief critical thinking Mood skeptical inquisitive Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - cultural rituals - political doctrines Key Concepts philosophy sociology Questions to Reflect On - Why do we accept traditions without scrutiny? - What evidence supports this practice? A Different Perspective Long‑standing customs may have hidden harms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Odd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odd/) [Odd things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odd-things/) [Passage of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passage-of-time/) [Passages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passages/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-believe/) [People Seriously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-seriously/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Sheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sheer/) [Thing Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-tradition-3004087/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) [Tradition Longer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition-longer-1330696/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) ## Related quotes > [Tradition is no longer a continuity but a series of sharp breaks. 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