Change for the better or worse?

When Lord Salisbury, the first British prime minister of the 20th century,

was asked by Queen Victoria to consider a reform, he famously replied:

“Change? Your majesty, aren’t things bad enough as they are?”

This is a great quote for anyone who wants to have the status quo altered. On one level, this is the essence of conservatism. A change may not solve the current problem. It may make it worse or create new problems. Hence, there has to be a careful review of any change.