Be not too rash in the breaking of an inconvenient custom…
“Be not too rash in the breaking of an inconvenient custom; as it was gotten, so leave it by degrees. Danger attends upon too sudden alterations; he that pulls down a bad building by the great may be ruined by the fall, but he that takes it down brick by brick may live to build a better.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Change should be gradual; abrupt shifts risk collapse while steady, incremental reform can lead to lasting improvement.
In simple terms: Slow change avoids disaster.
Key Takeaway
Make changes step by step.
Themes
change
patience
risk management
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal habits
- organizational restructuring
- policy reform
- urban planning
Key Concepts
incremental reform
structural stability
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you break a harmful habit safely?
- What small steps can improve a broken system?
A Different Perspective
Too rapid change can cause unintended damage.