Gustav Mahler's Paraphrase of Thomas More

In German a popular quotation of "Thomas Morus", or Thomas More, goes something like this - in this instance, as paraphrased by Gustav Mahler to the point that it is occasionally attributed to him:

"Tradition ist die Weitergabe des Feuers und nicht die Anbetung der Asche."

Namely "tradition is the handing down of the flame and not the worshipping of ashes".

It's a pretty apt Mahler quotation considering that he also said:

"Was ihr Theaterleute Tradition nennt, das ist Bequemlichkeit und Schlamperei"

"What you theatre people call tradition is just cosiness and laziness"