History & CultureMental model

Chesterton's fence: don't remove what you don't understand.

In 1929, G. K. Chesterton described a fence in the middle of a field. The modern reformer says: 'I don't see the use of this, let's clear it away.' The wiser one replies: 'If you don't see the use, go and find out why it's there first.' Many old rules, rituals and buildings solved problems that reappear once they're gone.

Useful: Before you scrap an old rule in your team, ask someone who was there when it was made.

Source: en.wikipedia.org

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