"A radical generally meant a man who thought he could somehow pull up the root without affecting the flower. A conservative generally meant a man who wanted to conserve everything except his own reason for conserving anything"

This quote by Gilbert K. Chesterton is a commentary on the 2 main political ideologies of the time. A radical was somebody who wished to make extreme changes to the existing system, frequently without thinking about the repercussions. A conservative was somebody who wished to maintain the status quo, however without thinking about the reasons for doing so. Chesterton is suggesting that both sides of the political spectrum have their flaws, which neither is always ideal or incorrect. He is also suggesting that both sides must be open to factor and debate, rather than blindly following their own ideologies. Eventually, Chesterton is advocating for a more well balanced approach to politics, one that takes into account both the need for modification and the need for stability.