Henry David ThoreauAny fool can make a rule And any fool will mind it.
About This Quote
This quote is a great reminder that rules can cause a lot of harm. Rules often cause people to lose sight of the big picture and become more rigid about following them. Without a common understanding of what rules are, it’s hard to know whether the rules are good or bad. This quote, from an essay by Mark Twain, asks whether or not laws should exist at all. Some say that laws should be made to protect people from others, but if one person can make a law for another person, then does that mean the first person is really the boss? The quote also uses humor to illustrate the idea of “any fool” making laws.
Source: Journal #14
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