"A conservative is one who admires radicals centuries after they're dead"

This quote by Leo Rosten recommends that conservatives are frequently sluggish to accept change and progress. They might appreciate the concepts of radicals, however just after they have been proven to be effective and accepted by society. This is due to the fact that conservatives tend to be more cautious and standard in their views, and are often reluctant to accept originalities. They might be most likely to accept something once it has been shown to be effective and accepted by the majority. This quote suggests that conservatives are frequently too slow to accept modification and development, and only acknowledge the value of extreme ideas after they have been shown to be effective.