--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't make rules regarding the moral…" description: "\"You can't make rules regarding the moral behavior of something unless you know what the hell it is, and what it's capacities are. What it can do, what ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/jerry-garcia-2346_behavior_you-can-t-make-rules-regarding-the-moral_2311315.jpg" --- # You can't make rules regarding the moral behavior of… ![“You can't make rules regarding the moral behavior of something unless you know what the hell it is, and what it's capacities are. What it can do, what it can't do.” quote by Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/jerry-garcia-2346_behavior_you-can-t-make-rules-regarding-the-moral_2311315.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/jerry-garcia-2346_behavior_you-can-t-make-rules-regarding-the-moral_2311315.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83b/jerry-garcia-2346_behavior_you-can-t-make-rules-regarding-the-moral_2311315.jpg) > “You can't make rules regarding the moral behavior of something unless you know what the hell it is, and what it's capacities are. What it can do, what it can't do.” [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral rules require knowledge of an entity's nature and capabilities. **In simple terms:** Know what something is before judging its morality. Key Takeaway Study the subject before setting moral standards. Themes ethics knowledge responsibility Mood critical inquisitive Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - AI development - animal rights - environmental policy - technology regulation Key Concepts philosophy ontology Questions to Reflect On - What capacities must be considered in moral judgments? - How do we assess unknown entities? A Different Perspective Assuming morality without understanding can lead to unfair judgments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Behavior Unless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior-unless-2421661/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Hell Capacities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell-capacities-5491453/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-behavior/) [Regarding Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regarding-moral-5491452/) ## Related quotes > [People don't change their behavior unless it makes a difference for them to do so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-stone/people-don-t-change-their-behavior-unless-it-makes-a-difference-for/) [Sharon Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-stone/) > [“People don't change their behavior unless it makes sense to them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grandberg/people-don-t-change-their-behavior-unless-it-makes-sense-to-them/) [Adam Grandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grandberg/) > [The quality of moral behavior varies in inverse ratio to the number of human beings involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-quality-of-moral-behavior-varies-in-inverse-ratio-to-the-number/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Man would indeeded be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/man-would-indeeded-be-in-a-poor-way-if-he-had-to-be-restrained-by/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“One day I realized the perfect coincidence between the books I was trying to finish on gnosticism and moral behavior, and the attempts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/one-day-i-realized-the-perfect-coincidence-between-the-books-i-was/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [Unless we believe the gospel, we will be driven in all we do-whether obeying or disobeying-by pride ('self-love') or fear ('of damnation'). Apart from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/unless-we-believe-the-gospel-we-will-be-driven-in-all-we-do-whether/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Zimbardo could not see the brutality himself because he was already too deep into his chosen role of Warden and lost his exterior view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-many/zimbardo-could-not-see-the-brutality-himself-because-he-was-already/) [Nancy Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-many/) > [I think we certainly benefit from social institutions which encourage us towards moral behavior. It's very important to have law. It's very important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-think-we-certainly-benefit-from-social-institutions-which-encourage/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“and self-responsibility can only occur where the child is surrounded with moral behavior and allowed to grow her own understanding of the ideals of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-bryson/and-self-responsibility-can-only-occur-where-the-child-is-surrounded/) [Kelly Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-bryson/) > [Morals — all correct moral laws — derive from the instinct to survive. Moral behavior is survival behavior above the individual level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/morals-all-correct-moral-laws-derive-from-the-instinct-to-survive/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Self-centeredness is the basis for all sorts of immoral behavior as well as all the sorrows of humanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/self-centeredness-is-the-basis-for-all-sorts-of-immoral-behavior-as/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Obviously there must be a relationship between our ethical theories and our moral behavior. In a real sense, our beliefs dictate our behavior. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/obviously-there-must-be-a-relationship-between-our-ethical-theories/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [Obviously, marriage is not a synonym for morality. But stable marriages and families do encourage moral behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/obviously-marriage-is-not-a-synonym-for-morality-but-stable-marriages/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [I think there's a real tension between capitalism and morality. That's not to say these systems aren't powerful and useful, but to assume that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/i-think-there-s-a-real-tension-between-capitalism-and-morality-that-s/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [Of all the major religions, or lack thereof, the atheist's is one of the best pretenders: his foundation for all existences, as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/of-all-the-major-religions-or-lack-thereof-the-atheist-s-is-one-of/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) ## More by Jerry Garcia > [once in awhile you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look it right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/once-in-awhile-you-get-shown-the-light-in-the-strangest-of-places-if/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [To me, that's the key thing, the pursuit of happiness. That's the basic, ultimate freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/to-me-that-s-the-key-thing-the-pursuit-of-happiness-that-s-the-basic/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [“A leaf of all colors plays a golden-string fiddle To a double-e waterfall over my back”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/a-leaf-of-all-colors-plays-a-golden-string-fiddle-to-a-double-e/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [Some things may work, but they definitely won't work every time. Some things may work at various times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/some-things-may-work-but-they-definitely-won-t-work-every-time-some/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [It's odd that there is a high level of appreciation of nature. There is the aesthetic side that really loves nature and beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/it-s-odd-that-there-is-a-high-level-of-appreciation-of-nature-there/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [If you think of music as a universal language, it still has some very powerful dialects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/if-you-think-of-music-as-a-universal-language-it-still-has-some-very/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [You have to be ready, and also you have to discard notions that are fondly held by a lot of musicians, about sequences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/you-have-to-be-ready-and-also-you-have-to-discard-notions-that-are/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [If you are picking the lesser of two evils, you are still picking Evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/if-you-are-picking-the-lesser-of-two-evils-you-are-still-picking-evil/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [Our strong suit is what we do, and our audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/our-strong-suit-is-what-we-do-and-our-audience/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [And for me there's still more material than 20 lifetimes that I can use up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/and-for-me-there-s-still-more-material-than-20-lifetimes-that-i-can/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [It's much too late to do anything about rock & roll now ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/it-s-much-too-late-to-do-anything-about-rock-roll-now/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [Yeah, I think we have to. If we want our shows to be - if we want the quality of the shows to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/yeah-i-think-we-have-to-if-we-want-our-shows-to-be-if-we-want-the/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [You ain't gonna learn what you don't wanna know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/you-ain-t-gonna-learn-what-you-don-t-wanna-know/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [America is still mostly xenophobic and racist. That's the nature of America, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/america-is-still-mostly-xenophobic-and-racist-that-s-the-nature-of/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [Nothing left to do but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/nothing-left-to-do-but-smile/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) [Explore all 171 Jerry Garcia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) ## More Behavior quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [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/) > [“I now know that deep within the human concept is something dark, selfish, and completely willing to do whatever is necessary to support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-west/i-now-know-that-deep-within-the-human-concept-is-something-dark/) [Melissa West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-west/) > [“We are endowed with genes which code out our reaction to beavers and otters, maybe our reaction to each other as well. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-endowed-with-genes-which-code-out-our-reaction-to-beavers-and/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) [Burne Hogarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burne-hogarth/) > [You don't put milk in chamomile tea - that's disgusting behavior! That's not right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fraser/you-don-t-put-milk-in-chamomile-tea-that-s-disgusting-behavior-that-s/) [Laura Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fraser/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) [J. Willard Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-willard-gibbs/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-tipping-point-is-that-magic-moment-when-an-idea-trend-or-social/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [I think we've told a lot of lies about human behavior through film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/i-think-we-ve-told-a-lot-of-lies-about-human-behavior-through-film/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [The strongest rebellion may be expressed in quiet, undramatic behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/the-strongest-rebellion-may-be-expressed-in-quiet-undramatic-behavior/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 4,218 Behavior quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't make rules regarding the moral behavior of something unless you know what the hell it is, and what it's capacities are. 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