Uthmaan Ibn Haadir Al-Azdee (rahimahullaah) said: I entered upon Ibn Abbaas (radiyallaahu-anhu), so I said to him: ”Advise me.”  He said: ”Be upon steadfastness; follow and do not innovate.  Follow the first tradition (i.e. the way of the salaf) and do not innovate.”

[Quoted by Shaikh Jamaal Al-Fareehaan Al-Haarithee in Durar Al-Manthoor page 20, and the Shaikh referenced this statement of Ibn Mas’ood to As-Sunnah No:29 and Dhammul Kalaam Wa-Ahli, No:334]