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About this quote

What does it mean?
Radicals create new ideas that conservatives eventually accept.
In plain terms
New ideas start with radicals and end with conservatives.
What can you take from it?
Radical ideas often become mainstream over time.

Where it applies

  • political discourse
  • social movements

Putting it to work

  • track idea evolution
  • understand policy shifts

Questions to consider

  • Which radical ideas are becoming mainstream now?

Another view

Not all radical ideas are adopted by conservatives.

More from Mark Twain

  1. France has usually been governed by prostitutes.

    Permalink to quote #117
  2. Familiarity breeds contempt - and children.

    Permalink to quote #119
  3. God's inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn.

    Permalink to quote #116

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