On Being Conservative

I thank Andrew Sullivan for this Michael Oakeshott, a riposte to my friend Andy, who over sushi and vodka tonics implied that conservatism had nothing worthwhile to say as a philosophy (if I'm misquoting him, well, blame the sushi and vodka tonics):

G]overning is recognized as a specific and limited activity; not the management of an enterprise, but the rule of those engaged in a great diversity of self-chosen enterprises. It is not concerned with concrete persons, but with activities; and with activities only in respect of their propensity to collide with one another. It is not concerned with moral right and wrong, it is not designed to make men good or even better; it is not indispensable on account of the "natural depravity of mankind" but merely because of their current disposition to be extravagant; its business is to keep its subjects at peace with one another in the activities in which they have chosen to seek their happiness.