--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every plausible policy must be followed…" description: "\"Every plausible policy must be followed by the question 'And then what?'\" — Garrett Hardin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/garrett-hardin-11328_plausible_every-plausible-policy-must-be-followed_1979315.jpg" --- # Every plausible policy must be followed by the question… ![“Every plausible policy must be followed by the question 'And then what?'” quote by Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/garrett-hardin-11328_plausible_every-plausible-policy-must-be-followed_1979315.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/garrett-hardin-11328_plausible_every-plausible-policy-must-be-followed_1979315.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/garrett-hardin-11328_plausible_every-plausible-policy-must-be-followed_1979315.jpg) > “Every plausible policy must be followed by the question 'And then what?'” [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Policies must anticipate downstream effects, prompting further inquiry. **In simple terms:** Every policy raises new questions. Key Takeaway Plan for long‑term impacts. Themes policy analysis systems thinking future planning Mood critical inquisitive Type academic strategic When to use this quote - legislative drafting - strategic planning - risk assessment Key Concepts economics environmental science Questions to Reflect On - What ‘and then what’ scenarios exist? - How can we test policy outcomes? A Different Perspective Unforeseen consequences may arise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Plausible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plausible/) [Plausible Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plausible-policy-3370965/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Policy Followed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy-followed-3370966/) [Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question/) [Truth Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“It was a question now, rather than a statement; a question with no answer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-was-a-question-now-rather-than-a-statement-a-question-with-no/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [All I am saying is that if you want to answer a question, then we need to examine and weigh up the evidence. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/all-i-am-saying-is-that-if-you-want-to-answer-a-question-then-we-need/) [Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/) > [“want to ask you a question.” He nodded. “Take me to the dance next weekend.” He tilted his head to the side and frowned.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-l-johnson/want-to-ask-you-a-question-he-nodded-take-me-to-the-dance-next/) [Amber L. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-l-johnson/) > [“The question isn't CAN YOU? It is WILL YOU?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-m/the-question-isn-t-can-you-it-is-will-you/) [C.M](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-m/) > [“Be sure you want the answer before you ask the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-mcbride/be-sure-you-want-the-answer-before-you-ask-the-question/) [Carolyn McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-mcbride/) > [If you question anything enough, you'll begin to doubt it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/if-you-question-anything-enough-you-ll-begin-to-doubt-it/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Often the most tricky questions are the ones we secretly know the answers of. What are you running from? What are you waiting for?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/often-the-most-tricky-questions-are-the-ones-we-secretly-know-the/) [Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/) > [You ask me a question, I'm going to give you an honest answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/you-ask-me-a-question-i-m-going-to-give-you-an-honest-answer/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [ “What is the answer?" \[ I \[Alice B Toklas\] was silent \] In that case, what is the question?” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/what-is-the-answer-i-alice-b-toklas-was-silent-in-that-case-what-is/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [For your information, I would like to ask a question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/for-your-information-i-would-like-to-ask-a-question/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [“Question is mother of knowledge”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farhan-muhammad-khan/question-is-mother-of-knowledge/) [Farhan Muhammad khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farhan-muhammad-khan/) > [Lie to me once, & I'll question everything you say after that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lie-to-me-once-i-ll-question-everything-you-say-after-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [The starting point is a question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-manguel/the-starting-point-is-a-question/) [Alberto Manguel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-manguel/) ## More by Garrett Hardin > [Ecological differentiation is the necessary condition for coexistence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/ecological-differentiation-is-the-necessary-condition-for-coexistence/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [Fundamentalists are panicked by the apparent disintegration of the family, the disappearance of certainty and the decay of morality. Fear leads them to ask,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/fundamentalists-are-panicked-by-the-apparent-disintegration-of-the/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [Indeed, our particular concept of private property, which deters us from exhausting the positive resources of the earth, favors pollution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/indeed-our-particular-concept-of-private-property-which-deters-us/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [“Individualism is cherished because it produces freedom, but the gift is conditional.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/individualism-is-cherished-because-it-produces-freedom-but-the-gift/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [But it is no good using the tongs of reason to pull the Fundamentalists' chestnuts out of the fire of contradiction. Their real troubles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/but-it-is-no-good-using-the-tongs-of-reason-to-pull-the/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [To say that we mutually agree to coercion is not to say that we are required to enjoy it, or even to pretend we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/to-say-that-we-mutually-agree-to-coercion-is-not-to-say-that-we-are/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [The god who is reputed to have created fleas to keep dogs from moping over their situation must also have created fundamentalists to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/the-god-who-is-reputed-to-have-created-fleas-to-keep-dogs-from-moping/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [It takes five years for a willing person's mind to change. Have patience with yourself and others when treading in an area protected by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/it-takes-five-years-for-a-willing-person-s-mind-to-change-have/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [Economists (and others) who are satisfied with nature-free equations develop a dangerous hubris about the potency of our species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/economists-and-others-who-are-satisfied-with-nature-free-equations/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [No one should be able to enter a wilderness by mechanical means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/no-one-should-be-able-to-enter-a-wilderness-by-mechanical-means/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [The morality of an act is a function of the state of the system at the time it is performed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/the-morality-of-an-act-is-a-function-of-the-state-of-the-system-at/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [Value is a relative concept: the value of each action is determined by comparing it with other possible actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/value-is-a-relative-concept-the-value-of-each-action-is-determined-by/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [The optimum population is, then, less than the maximum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/the-optimum-population-is-then-less-than-the-maximum/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [(Technology reliability) x (Human reliability) = (System reliability)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/technology-reliability-x-human-reliability-system-reliability/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [Numeracy: 1. The art of putting numbers to things, that is, assigning amounts to variables in order that practical decisions may be reach. 2.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/numeracy-1-the-art-of-putting-numbers-to-things-that-is-assigning/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) [Explore all 60 Garrett Hardin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) ## More Plausible quotes > [It is often sadly remarked that the bad economists present their errors to the public better than the good economists present their truths. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/it-is-often-sadly-remarked-that-the-bad-economists-present-their/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [It is also plausible that those movements with the greatest inner contradiction and between profession and practice - that is to say with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-is-also-plausible-that-those-movements-with-the-greatest-inner/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/as-in-the-instances-of-alchemy-astrology-witchcraft-and-other-such/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [The plausible outcomes range from the gradual and benign to the more precipitous and damaging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-geithner/the-plausible-outcomes-range-from-the-gradual-and-benign-to-the-more/) [Timothy Geithner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-geithner/) > [I shall give a propagandist reason for starting the war, no matter whether it is plausible or not. The victor will not be asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/i-shall-give-a-propagandist-reason-for-starting-the-war-no-matter/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-is-no-plausible-theory-under-which-the-record-of-the-pentagon/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Like my parents, I have never been a regular church member or churchgoer. It doesn't seem plausible to me that there is the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/like-my-parents-i-have-never-been-a-regular-church-member-or/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) > [“We could probably do it, figure out a plausible way to really get back her, to completely ruin her life. How hard could it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-s-thompson/we-could-probably-do-it-figure-out-a-plausible-way-to-really-get-back/) [Nancy S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-s-thompson/) > [After we have thought out everything carefully in advance and have sought and found without prejudice the most plausible plan, we must not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/after-we-have-thought-out-everything-carefully-in-advance-and-have/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [I mean come on. Do you know how easy it is to be famous these days? Do you have any idea? The web has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/i-mean-come-on-do-you-know-how-easy-it-is-to-be-famous-these-days-do/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [Tim Kaine has been obviously a governor. He's been a senator. He's one of the smartest rising stars in the Democratic Party. He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/tim-kaine-has-been-obviously-a-governor-he-s-been-a-senator-he-s-one/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [Whether or not enlightenment is a plausible goal for us is a vital question for our lives. If it is possible for us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-thurman/whether-or-not-enlightenment-is-a-plausible-goal-for-us-is-a-vital/) [Robert Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-thurman/) > [I just wanted to make sure that yes, that those horror - they worked as a genre. To me, I just wanted to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-farmiga/i-just-wanted-to-make-sure-that-yes-that-those-horror-they-worked-as/) [Vera Farmiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-farmiga/) > [The word happiness exists in every language; it is plausible the thing itself exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-word-happiness-exists-in-every-language-it-is-plausible-the-thing/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The emergence of a unified cognitive moment relies on the coordination of scattered mosaics of functionally specialized brain regions. Here we review the mechanisms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-varela/the-emergence-of-a-unified-cognitive-moment-relies-on-the/) [Francisco Varela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-varela/) [Browse all 211 Plausible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plausible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every plausible policy must be followed by the question 'And then what?'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Garrett Hardin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/every-plausible-policy-must-be-followed-by-the-question-and-then-what/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Plausible" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/every-plausible-policy-must-be-followed-by-the-question-and-then-what/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/garrett-hardin-11328_plausible_every-plausible-policy-must-be-followed_1979315.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/garrett-hardin-11328_plausible_every-plausible-policy-must-be-followed_1979315.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/garrett-hardin-11328_plausible_every-plausible-policy-must-be-followed_1979315.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every plausible policy must be followed by the question 'And then what?'” — Garrett Hardin", "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": "Garrett Hardin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Every plausible policy must be followed...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/every-plausible-policy-must-be-followed-by-the-question-and-then-what/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/every-plausible-policy-must-be-followed-by-the-question-and-then-what/#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 } } ] } ```