I found the same quote that you did . You are correct regarding quotes defending tradition. They are hard to find . If you take your quote and place it with some of the others ,the meaning of the second quote may change. Here is your quote : “Tradition is a guide and not a jailer.”Author: W. Somerset Maugham. Here is another quote “ The bird that would soar above the plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. “
Author: Kate Chopin

If you take the quotation marks out and put the sentences together the meaning of the second quote changes.

Tradition is a guide not a jailer. The bird that would soar above the plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings.

This is deep , Don ! I am only on my first cup of coffee and may have gone off in a different direction .