Chesterton on Tradition

"Tradition may be defined as an extension of the franchise.  Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors.  It is the democracy of the dead.  Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about.  All democrats object to men being disqualified by the accident  of death...Tradition asks us not to neglect a good man's opinion, even if he is our father."
From: G. K. Chesteron, "Ethics of Elfdom," 48 as quoted by Maschke in Gathered Guests.

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