A Voice Crying in the Wilderness (Vox Clamantis in Deserto) (1990)
“It's not wise to violate the rules until you know how to observe them.”
“Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools.”
Brickhill 1954, p. 44. Note: (also quoted as "...for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men.") In Reach for the Sky, this quote is attributed to Harry Day, the Royal Flying Corps First World War fighter ace.
"Encouragement of Science" (Address at Science Talent Institute, 6 Mar 1950), Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, v.7, #1 (Jan 1951) p. 6-8
Context: We do not believe any group of men adequate enough or wise enough to operate without scrutiny or without criticism. We know that the only way to avoid error is to detect it, that the only way to detect it is to be free to enquire. We know that the wages of secrecy are corruption. We know that in secrecy error, undetected, will flourish and subvert.
“I trust that everything happens for a reason, even if we are not wise enough to see it.”
Variant: Everything happens for a reason, even when we are not wise enough to see it. When there is no struggle, there is no strength.
“Although the masters make the rules
For the wise men and the fools
I got nothing, Ma, to live up to”
Song lyrics, Bringing It All Back Home (1965), It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
“No rules, however wise, are a substitute for affection and tact.”
Source: 1930s, In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays (1935), Ch. 12: Education and Discipline
“A wise man rules his passions, a fool obeys them.”
Maxim 49
Sentences, The Moral Sayings of Publius Syrus, a Roman Slave
16 October 1939
My Day (1935–1962)
Source: This is My Story
