Change Quote by Will Durant
““So the conservative who resists change is as valuable as the radical who proposes it -- perhaps as much more as the roots are more vital than grafts. It is good that new ideas should be heard, for the sake of the few that can be used; but it is also good that new ideas should be compelled to go through the mill of objection, opposition, and contumely; this is the trial heat which innovations must survive before being allowed to enter the human race. It is good that the old should resist the young, and that the young should prod the old; out of this tension, as out of the strife of the sexes and the classes, comes a creative tensile strength, a stimulated development, a secret and basic unity and movement of the whole.””
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Story of Civilization” Volume 1, 1935
Change thrives when radicals propose ideas and conservatives test them, creating tension that strengthens innovation.
In simple terms: Innovation needs both new ideas and critical scrutiny to succeed.
Key Takeaway
Balance bold proposals with thoughtful critique.
Themes
innovation
balance
critique
progress
tension
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
strategic
When to use this quote
- policy development
- organizational change
- cultural evolution
- technological advancement
Key Concepts
dialectics
creative tension
social dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we foster constructive tension?
- When does resistance become harmful?
A Different Perspective
Excessive resistance can stall necessary progress.
