"Won't you be walking in your predecessors' footsteps? I surely will use the older path, but if I find a shorter and smoother way, I'll blaze a trail there. The ones who pioneered these paths aren't our masters, but our guides. Truth stands open to everyone, it hasn't been monopolized."-SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 33.11
("선조들의 발자취를 따라가는 것이 아닌가요? 저는 분명히 오래된 길을 사용하겠지만, 만약 더 짧고 매끄러운 길을 발견하면, 그곳에 새로운 길을 개척할 것입니다. 이 길을 처음 개척한 사람들은 우리의 주인이 아니라, 우리의 안내자입니다. 진리는 누구에게나 열려 있으며, 독점된 것이 아닙니다." - 세네카, 도덕적 편지, 33.11)
Traditions are often time-tested best practices for doing something. But remember that today's conservative ideas were once controversial, cutting-edge, and innovative. This is why we can't be afraid to experiment with new ideas.
In Seneca's case, he might be embracing some new philosophical insight that improves on the writing of Zeno or Cleanthes. In our case, perhaps a breakthrough in psychology improves on the writing of Seneca ...
