In "The March of Folly," Barbara W. Tuchman explores the enduring nature of the papacy, emphasizing how each successive pope perpetuated the same flawed ideas and practices of his predecessors. This continuity of thought and mission within the papacy compounded the challenges faced by the church over time, highlighting a cycle of unchanging leadership that failed to adapt to the evolving needs of society and governance.

Tuchman's analysis suggests that the repeated reinforcement of these unmodified beliefs and approaches not only maintained the status quo but also exacerbated existing issues. The quote underscores how this lack of evolution in leadership thinking hindered progress and contributed to the overall decline of the institution's influence and effectiveness in addressing contemporary problems.