institutions.

I was watching Real Time with Bill Maher and Sir Ian McKellen was on. The subject of gay marriage came up. He ended up quoting Thomas Jefferson, who had the following to say on "institutions":

"I am certainly not an advocate for frequent and untried changes in laws and constitutions. I think moderate imperfections had better be borne with; because, when once known, we accomodate ourselves to them and find practical means of correcting their ill effects. But I know also that laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths disclosed and manners and opinions change with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also and keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."

-- Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Kercheval, 1816

To say that our institutions of law and society were not meant to grow as we grew is obviously an ignorant view point that contradicts what the framers of our government thought.