Chesterton’s Fence originates in G. K. Chesterton’s 1929 book The Thing and argues that the purpose of an existing institution should be understood before it is removed.

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Location PART 1 - TONS OF PUNKS, ONE BIG JERK CHAPTER 2: NO MOAT IN BLOAT Chesterton’s Fence

"Chesterton’s Fence originates in G. K. Chesterton’s 1929 book The Thing and argues that the purpose of an existing institution should be understood before it is removed."

The Society of G.K. Chesterton identifies the original passage in The Thing and shows that the familiar one-line formulation is a paraphrase rather than Chesterton’s verbatim wording.

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Source title Taking a Fence Down

Source authors G. K. Chesterton

Source year 1929

Confidence high

Importance high