Full Idea
The fact that something has always been done in a certain way strikes most people a a perfectly adequate reason for doing it that way again.
Gist of Idea
People see tradition as an adequate reason for a repeated action
Source
Robert Paul Wolff (In Defence of Anarchism [1970], 1.1)
A Reaction
Not entirely absurd. 'Don't reinvent the wheel' is a good slogan. But repetition of events and actions becomes a way to dilute possible criticisms. Some traditions are ludicrous.
Book Reference
Wolff,Robert Paul: 'In Defence of Anarchism' [Harper Torchbooks 1976], p.6