---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you don't understand why something was…"
description: "\"If you don't understand why something was put in place, if the reason behind a norm or method is lost, investigate. Don't assume it's wrong.\" — Anonymous"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/anonymous-1_research_if-you-don-t-understand-why-something-wa_1506405.jpg"
---

#  If you don't understand why something was put in place, if…

![“If you don't understand why something was put in place, if the reason behind a norm or method is lost, investigate. Don't assume it's wrong.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/anonymous-1_research_if-you-don-t-understand-why-something-wa_1506405.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/anonymous-1_research_if-you-don-t-understand-why-something-wa_1506405.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/anonymous-1_research_if-you-don-t-understand-why-something-wa_1506405.jpg)

> “If you don't understand why something was put in place, if the reason behind a norm or method is lost, investigate. Don't assume it's wrong.”

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

When norms are unclear, investigate their origins before judging them.

**In simple terms:** Investigate before judging norms.

Key Takeaway

Seek understanding before criticism.

Themes

curiosity critical thinking norms

Mood

inquisitive thoughtful

Type

philosophical practical

When to use this quote

- workplace policies
- social customs
- legal frameworks
- educational methods

Key Concepts

historical context epistemology

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do we assume norms are wrong?
- How can we verify a norm's purpose?

A Different Perspective

Investigation may reveal entrenched bias.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Things happen for a reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen-for-a-reason/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/)

## Related quotes

> [If you weren't around, I'd probably be someplace way the hell off. In the woods or some goddamn place. You're the only reason I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-weren-t-around-i-d-probably-be-someplace-way-the-hell-off-in/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“In my experience, I have found that there is never a perfect time or place for anything. We can always find a reason to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syrie-james/in-my-experience-i-have-found-that-there-is-never-a-perfect-time-or/)

[Syrie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syrie-james/)

> [Whenever a film has three different release dates, people understandably assume that there must be something wrong with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lee-hancock/whenever-a-film-has-three-different-release-dates-people/)

[John Lee Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lee-hancock/)

> [“Whenever I observe something in nature that I (or mankind) think is wrong, I assume that I’m wrong and try to figure out why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/whenever-i-observe-something-in-nature-that-i-or-mankind-think-is/)

[Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

> [“In political situations, we should be careful not to assume “everyone is wrong” and “just compromise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-larsen/in-political-situations-we-should-be-careful-not-to-assume-everyone/)

Aaron Larsen

> [“And if you insist on continuing to make assumptions about my character, I’ll advise you only this: assume you will always be wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/and-if-you-insist-on-continuing-to-make-assumptions-about-my/)

[Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/)

> [If you have problems in your life, don’t assume there is something wrong with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-c-hafen/if-you-have-problems-in-your-life-don-t-assume-there-is-something/)

[Bruce C. Hafen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-c-hafen/)

> [I'm trying to learn to ask myself: 'Before you dive in are you sure you are right?' It's always safe to assume I'm wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-jones/i-m-trying-to-learn-to-ask-myself-before-you-dive-in-are-you-sure-you/)

[Ruth Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-jones/)

> [As you make a prototype, assume you are right and everyone else is wrong. When you share your prototype, assume you are wrong and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-rodriguez-telechea/as-you-make-a-prototype-assume-you-are-right-and-everyone-else-is/)

Diego Rodriguez Telechea

> [“In a period of extended waiting in life, it is all too easy to assume that something is wrong. We assume that 'something' is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-marlow/in-a-period-of-extended-waiting-in-life-it-is-all-too-easy-to-assume/)

[Tanya Marlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-marlow/)

> [Never underestimate something that you don't understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-underestimate-something-that-you-don-t-understand/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The situation go wrong when u don't understand yourself..,. :(](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-situation-go-wrong-when-u-don-t-understand-yourself/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I don’t understand anything...and I no longer want to understand anything. I want to stick to the fact...If I wanted to understand something, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-understand-anything-and-i-no-longer-want-to-understand/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-mathematics-you-don-t-understand-things-you-just-get-used-to-them/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You don't understand...Cutting unless your'e a cutter. Drugs unless your'e a druggie. Suicide unless you've attempted it. Eating disorders unless you've had one. Me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-don-t-understand-cutting-unless-your-e-a-cutter-drugs-unless-your/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Anonymous

> [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More Reason quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to \[when I started my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-powell/i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s-one-reason-why-i-don-t-work/)

[Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-powell/)

> [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [One of the reasons that I do a lot of different kinds of pictures is because I learn a lot when I'm doing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-jason-leigh/one-of-the-reasons-that-i-do-a-lot-of-different-kinds-of-pictures-is/)

[Jennifer Jason Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-jason-leigh/)

> [There's no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless of jobless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/there-s-no-reason-someone-who-has-fought-for-their-country-should-be/)

[Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/)

> [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [If you can do anything for love there's no reason you can't do everything to someone you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayjay-guillermo/if-you-can-do-anything-for-love-there-s-no-reason-you-can-t-do/)

[Jayjay Guillermo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayjay-guillermo/)

> [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/)

[Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/)

> [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/)

[Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/)

> [“There's no need for a reason for people to fall in love. Even if people say there is a reason, that's just something they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuna-takagi/there-s-no-need-for-a-reason-for-people-to-fall-in-love-even-if/)

[Yuna Takagi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuna-takagi/)

> [The one means that wins the easiest victory over reason is terror and force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-one-means-that-wins-the-easiest-victory-over-reason-is-terror-and/)

[Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/)

[Browse all 23,417 Reason quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you don't understand why something was put in place, if the reason behind a norm or method is lost, investigate. Don't assume it's wrong.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Anonymous"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-don-t-understand-why-something-was-put-in-place-if-the-reason/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Reason"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-don-t-understand-why-something-was-put-in-place-if-the-reason/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/anonymous-1_research_if-you-don-t-understand-why-something-wa_1506405.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/anonymous-1_research_if-you-don-t-understand-why-something-wa_1506405.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/anonymous-1_research_if-you-don-t-understand-why-something-wa_1506405.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you don't understand why something was put in place, if the reason behind a norm or method is lost…” — Anonymous",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Anonymous",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you don't understand why something...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-don-t-understand-why-something-was-put-in-place-if-the-reason/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-don-t-understand-why-something-was-put-in-place-if-the-reason/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
