"What is Conservatism?"

"So what is conservatism? Basically it is caution based on a perception that the world is an unpredictable, dangerous and often hostile place. So change is not rejected. It is in fact . . usually desired. But it is approached in a skeptical, step by step way to ensure that its effects are beneficial or at least benign. And an important criterion of what constitutes 'benign' is how the change affects individual liberty. At a minimum, a conservative wants to ensure that change will not reduce his individual liberty."

Dr. John Joseph Ray