The oldest and best known evil was ever more supportable than one that was new and untried.

This quote, “The oldest and best known evil was ever more supportable than one that was new and untried,” suggests that familiarity, even with something negative or harmful, often feels safer or more tolerable than the unknown. The “oldest and best known evil” represents a problem or difficulty we’ve encountered before. Despite its negative aspects, we understand it; we know its parameters and have developed strategies to cope with it.

On the other hand, an issue that is “new and untried” is unpredictable. We don’t know what to expect from it or how to deal with it effectively yet. This lack of understanding can make new problems seem scarier or harder to bear than old ones.

Applying this concept in today’s world could be seen in various contexts such as business, politics, personal relationships etc. For instance, people often stay in jobs they dislike because they fear the uncertainty of a new job market; countries may stick with ineffective policies because they fear potential fallout from change; individuals might endure unhealthy relationships for fear of being alone.

In terms of personal development too this idea holds relevance. Often times people resist change because they are comfortable within their known boundaries even if those boundaries are limiting them in some way (the familiar evil). But stepping into the unknown (the new untried) might lead them towards growth and better opportunities but due to fear of unknown they avoid taking risks.

Therefore while familiarity can offer comfort even if it’s not ideal situation but embracing uncertainty can sometimes lead us towards improvement which otherwise wouldn’t have been possible within our comfort zones.