Remediableness Quote* of the Day
14 January 2011 at 8:31 am Scott Masten 2 comments
| Scott Masten |
In the matter of reforming things, as distinct from deforming them, there is one plain and simple principle; a principle which will probably be called a paradox. 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.”
— G.K. Chesterton, The Thing (1929)
*Shouldn’t it be quotation of the day?
Entry filed under: Ephemera, Former Guest Bloggers, Institutions, New Institutional Economics.
Organizations and Markets 
1.
William Sjostrom | 14 January 2011 at 2:14 pm
Yes, yes, yes. “Quotation” is a noun, “quote” is a verb. Not that hard to get right.
2.
Rafe | 14 January 2011 at 4:57 pm
Re the words. As the free trader Edmund Burke said.
Call it the text of the day. And put it on twitter.