--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unlike private enterprise which quickly…" description: "\"Unlike private enterprise which quickly modifies its actions to meet emergencies - unlike the shopkeeper who promptly finds the wherewith to satisfy a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/herbert-spencer-1765_action_unlike-private-enterprise-which-quickly_1410655.jpg" --- # Unlike private enterprise which quickly modifies its… ![“Unlike private enterprise which quickly modifies its actions to meet emergencies - unlike the shopkeeper who promptly finds the wherewith to satisfy a sudden demand - unlike the railway company which doubles its trains to carry a special influx of passengers; the law-made instrumentality lumbers…” quote by Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/herbert-spencer-1765_action_unlike-private-enterprise-which-quickly_1410655.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/herbert-spencer-1765_action_unlike-private-enterprise-which-quickly_1410655.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/herbert-spencer-1765_action_unlike-private-enterprise-which-quickly_1410655.jpg) > “Unlike private enterprise which quickly modifies its actions to meet emergencies - unlike the shopkeeper who promptly finds the wherewith to satisfy a sudden demand - unlike the railway company which doubles its trains to carry a special influx of passengers; the law-made instrumentality lumbers on under all varieties of circumstances at its habitual rate. By its very nature it is fitted only for average requirements, and inevitably fails under unusual requirements.” [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Law‑based institutions are rigid, designed for ordinary conditions, and thus falter when faced with extraordinary demands. **In simple terms:** Legal systems are inflexible and struggle with crises. Key Takeaway Adapt laws to be flexible for emergencies. Themes law rigidity adaptability society crisis Mood analytical thoughtful concerned Type sociological practical When to use this quote - emergency response - policy reform - business continuity - public administration Key Concepts sociology institutional theory systems thinking Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can make legal systems more adaptable? - When should exceptions be made to standard procedures? A Different Perspective Rigid laws may stifle innovation in emergencies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Enterprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enterprise/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Private enterprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-enterprise/) [Railway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/railway/) [Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train/) [Variety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variety/) ## Related quotes > [“It was in the eighteenth century that England became what (Adam) Smith called "a nation of shopkeepers"… (p. 58)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-z-muller/it-was-in-the-eighteenth-century-that-england-became-what-adam-smith/) [Jerry Z. Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-z-muller/) > [Freedom of discussion is in England little else than the right to write or say anything which a jury of twelve shopkeepers think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-v-dicey/freedom-of-discussion-is-in-england-little-else-than-the-right-to/) A. V. Dicey > [A man walks into a pet shop and says: "Give me a wasp." The shopkeeper replies: "We don't sell wasps." He says: "There's one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-carson/a-man-walks-into-a-pet-shop-and-says-give-me-a-wasp-the-shopkeeper/) [Frank Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-carson/) > [Rather than earn money, it was Thoreau's idea to reduce his wants so that he would not need to buy anything. As he went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/rather-than-earn-money-it-was-thoreau-s-idea-to-reduce-his-wants-so/) [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) > [There is an incessant influx of novelty into the world, and yet we tolerate incredible dullness. 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Today England looked like a nation of goalkeepers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/maybe-napoleon-was-wrong-when-he-said-we-were-a-nation-of-shopkeepers/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [The kind of people I myself represent in parliament; salary earners, shopkeepers, skilled artisans, professional men and women, farmers and so on, these are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-menzies/the-kind-of-people-i-myself-represent-in-parliament-salary-earners/) [Robert Menzies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-menzies/) ## More by Herbert Spencer > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Any piece of knowledge which the pupil has himself acquired- any problem which he has himself solved, becomes, by virtue of the conquest, much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/any-piece-of-knowledge-which-the-pupil-has-himself-acquired-any/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Conservatism defends those coercive arrangements which a still-lingering savageness makes requisite. Radicalism endeavours to realize a state more in harmony with the character of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/conservatism-defends-those-coercive-arrangements-which-a-still/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Absolute morality is the regulation of conduct in such a way that pain shall not be inflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/absolute-morality-is-the-regulation-of-conduct-in-such-a-way-that/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [When a man's knowledge is not in order, the more of it he has the greater will be his confusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/when-a-man-s-knowledge-is-not-in-order-the-more-of-it-he-has-the/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [The cruelty of a Fijian god, who, represented as devouring the souls of the dead, may be supposed to inflict torture during the process,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/the-cruelty-of-a-fijian-god-who-represented-as-devouring-the-souls-of/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [The liberty the citizen enjoys is to be measured not by governmental machinery he lives under, whether representative or other, but by the paucity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/the-liberty-the-citizen-enjoys-is-to-be-measured-not-by-governmental/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [I had a great dislike to the annoyances entailed by baggage; and it was always with some feeling of elation that I cut myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/i-had-a-great-dislike-to-the-annoyances-entailed-by-baggage-and-it/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Progress, therefore, is not an accident, but a necessity…It is a part of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/progress-therefore-is-not-an-accident-but-a-necessity-it-is-a-part-of/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Surely in much talk there cannot choose but be much vanity. Loquacity is the fistula of the mind,--ever-running and almost incurable, let every man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/surely-in-much-talk-there-cannot-choose-but-be-much-vanity-loquacity/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [No one can be perfectly free till all are free; no one can be perfectly moral till all are moral; no one can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-one-can-be-perfectly-free-till-all-are-free-no-one-can-be/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Only when Genius is married to Science can the highest results be produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/only-when-genius-is-married-to-science-can-the-highest-results-be/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [It cannot but happen?that those will survive whose functions happen to be most nearly in equilibrium with the modified aggregate of external forces? This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/it-cannot-but-happen-that-those-will-survive-whose-functions-happen/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [“Before he can remake his society, his society must make him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/before-he-can-remake-his-society-his-society-must-make-him/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) [Explore all 210 Herbert Spencer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. 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