id: 0G5F7B
title: Chesterton’s Fence refers to the idea that one must understand past rationale before reform.
date: 2022-01-01
reference: Chesterton's Fence, 2012

Chesterton’s Fence refers to the idea that one must understand past rationale before reform.

The origin talks about a gate across a road, which one person sees no use for and wishes to destroy, to which another replies that not seeing the use of a thing prohibits one from declaring it useless—only in understanding the use can one comment on its suitability.