Chesterton’s Fence

The idea that you should find out why something exists before trying to change it. If you find a fence in the middle of the road, find out why it was erected before tearing it down. From Chesterton’s “The Thing” in 1929.

There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, “I don’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.” To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: “If you don’t see the use of it, I certainly won’t let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.”