--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We set rules in times when they make…" description: "\"“We set rules in times when they make sense. Then the times change but the rules stay: they don't make sense anymore, but we still obey. Viva Humanity!..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/joan-marques-9874_nature-of-man_we-set-rules-in-times-when-they-make-sen_1036736.jpg" --- # We set rules in times when they make sense. Then the times… ![“We set rules in times when they make sense. Then the times change but the rules stay: they don't make sense anymore, but we still obey. Viva Humanity!” quote by Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/joan-marques-9874_nature-of-man_we-set-rules-in-times-when-they-make-sen_1036736.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/joan-marques-9874_nature-of-man_we-set-rules-in-times-when-they-make-sen_1036736.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/joan-marques-9874_nature-of-man_we-set-rules-in-times-when-they-make-sen_1036736.jpg) > ““We set rules in times when they make sense. Then the times change but the rules stay: they don't make sense anymore, but we still obey. Viva Humanity!”” [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rules created for one era become obsolete when times change, yet people still follow them. **In simple terms:** Outdated rules persist. Key Takeaway Update rules with context. Themes tradition change obedience Mood critical thoughtful Type social philosophical When to use this quote - policy reform - organizational change - cultural critique Key Concepts sociology ethics Questions to Reflect On - Why do we cling to old rules? - How can societies adapt responsibly? A Different Perspective Blind obedience can hinder progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“I only gave you two rules. Stay out of my way and don’t invade my privacy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-murphy/i-only-gave-you-two-rules-stay-out-of-my-way-and-don-t-invade-my/) [A.E. Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-murphy/) > [We all know rules are meant to be broken, but sometimes we gotta follow the rules to stay in the game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayboo-baby/we-all-know-rules-are-meant-to-be-broken-but-sometimes-we-gotta/) Jayboo Baby > [Baseball and the players association have rules. If you stay within the rules - which say that you can play while you're appealing -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rose/baseball-and-the-players-association-have-rules-if-you-stay-within/) [Pete Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rose/) > [The problem with restraining speech is, who gets to set the rules? If it's only okay in a certain time or place, who gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-freeman/the-problem-with-restraining-speech-is-who-gets-to-set-the-rules-if/) [Huey Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-freeman/) > [I believe in rules. I believe in artistic limitations, and I always have. I've always thought that setting out a set of rules before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanne-bier/i-believe-in-rules-i-believe-in-artistic-limitations-and-i-always/) [Susanne Bier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanne-bier/) > [“So there it was. My big lesson of the day, something I’d take with me and never forget. The whole legal system – if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hamilton/so-there-it-was-my-big-lesson-of-the-day-something-i-d-take-with-me/) [Steve Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hamilton/) > [Hypocrisy is the ultimate power move. It is a way of demonstrating that one plays by a different set of rules from the ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/hypocrisy-is-the-ultimate-power-move-it-is-a-way-of-demonstrating/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [Americans are very big about loving the dog first, so when you tell them you have to set rules and limitations, a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/americans-are-very-big-about-loving-the-dog-first-so-when-you-tell/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [We know that we can do it, but cannot describe in so many words how we do it, nor can we reduce it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-h-wellisch/we-know-that-we-can-do-it-but-cannot-describe-in-so-many-words-how-we/) [Hans H Wellisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-h-wellisch/) > [There is a set of rules and a code of conduct that I believe that you should adhere to in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-pearce/there-is-a-set-of-rules-and-a-code-of-conduct-that-i-believe-that-you/) [Stuart Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-pearce/) > [ Marla \[from Rules Don't Apply\] especially, believed that she has a certain set of rules that she had to abide by, in order to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-collins/marla-from-rules-don-t-apply-especially-believed-that-she-has-a/) [Lily Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-collins/) > [I don't think you can write according to a set of rules and laws; every writer is so different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran-desai/i-don-t-think-you-can-write-according-to-a-set-of-rules-and-laws/) [Kiran Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiran-desai/) > [“What’s it about?” Danny seemed authentically curious. “The night. It’s got its own set of rules.” “Day’s got rules too.” “Oh, I know,” Joe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/what-s-it-about-danny-seemed-authentically-curious-the-night-it-s-got/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [The most successful people do not make up the rules as they go. They have a set of rules that they follow and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-chancellor/the-most-successful-people-do-not-make-up-the-rules-as-they-go-they/) [John Chancellor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-chancellor/) > [Whenever I write for hotel reservations, I always enclose a set of rules I have made for the hotels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/whenever-i-write-for-hotel-reservations-i-always-enclose-a-set-of/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) ## More by Joan Marques > [“Everywhere you go you'll see highs and lows These things are just part of life and its flows It helps to understand that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/everywhere-you-go-you-ll-see-highs-and-lows-these-things-are-just/) [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) > [“How sad if we allow our hearts to wane And obscure our joy with enduring pain While all things, good or bad, indisputably go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/how-sad-if-we-allow-our-hearts-to-wane-and-obscure-our-joy-with/) [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) > [“Recipe for success: Multiple years of working hard Five containers of planning smart A blend of perseverance and sacrifice A wee bit sleep to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/recipe-for-success-multiple-years-of-working-hard-five-containers-of/) [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) > [“Today's pace induces uncertainty, which stresses the end of security, welcomes the era of anxiety, and demands greater creativity - toward increased life quality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/today-s-pace-induces-uncertainty-which-stresses-the-end-of-security/) [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) > [“Life is like walking a tightrope: A balance between turning inward Often enough to find your happy core And focusing outward Often enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/life-is-like-walking-a-tightrope-a-balance-between-turning-inward/) [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) > [“Every relationship, job, or situation Should reinforce your internal relation The surest way to derail your dream Is clinging to things that destroy your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/every-relationship-job-or-situation-should-reinforce-your-internal/) [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) > [“There's a difference between apathy and acceptance. Apathy lets you endure life. Acceptance helps you enjoy it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/there-s-a-difference-between-apathy-and-acceptance-apathy-lets-you/) [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) > [“When you stop searching, you find. When you stop looking, you see. When you stop battling, you win. When you stop taking, you receive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/when-you-stop-searching-you-find-when-you-stop-looking-you-see-when/) [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) > [“If my shoes were made of humility; my dress of compassion; my hat of respect, my jewelry of gratitude, and my perfume of determination,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/if-my-shoes-were-made-of-humility-my-dress-of-compassion-my-hat-of/) [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) > [“Some "free" people are more imprisoned than those that are locked away. Trapped in narrow mindsets, they carry their mental prison with them day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/some-free-people-are-more-imprisoned-than-those-that-are-locked-away/) [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) > [“Be kind to your mind: use it regularly by thinking critically. When thinking stops, the quality of the mind drops. And with a lazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/be-kind-to-your-mind-use-it-regularly-by-thinking-critically-when/) [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) > [“When we stop pushing we realize that it was all for habit, fear, envy, or greed. In the calmness after the strife we often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/when-we-stop-pushing-we-realize-that-it-was-all-for-habit-fear-envy/) [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) > [“Don't think too low of yourself: it attracts negative energy. Don't think too high of yourself: it leads to arrogance. Just don't think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/don-t-think-too-low-of-yourself-it-attracts-negative-energy-don-t/) [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) > [“If we claim to be a higher order than animals, how come that we're the only species that engages in killing for sport, hurting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/if-we-claim-to-be-a-higher-order-than-animals-how-come-that-we-re-the/) [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) > [“When people try to affront you, you can do two things: either accept it and ruin your day, or leave their gift unaccepted, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/when-people-try-to-affront-you-you-can-do-two-things-either-accept-it/) [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) [Explore all 69 Joan Marques quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) ## More Humanity quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [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/) > [“Is it necessary to recall that the earth is not infinite, and that our civilization is close to having invaded all of it? The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-tarde/is-it-necessary-to-recall-that-the-earth-is-not-infinite-and-that-our/) Gabriel Tarde > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Once the switch of parenthood is thrown, it changes you for ever & you can never escape the extra pull of humanity it gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hammond/once-the-switch-of-parenthood-is-thrown-it-changes-you-for-ever-you/) [Richard hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hammond/) > [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“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/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [“He grew away from old associations, and saw something new in life and humanity. Secondarily, he made close acquaintance with phenomena which he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/he-grew-away-from-old-associations-and-saw-something-new-in-life-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [What is accurately portrayed is the rich humanity not just of Martin Luther King but of the movement, which was a multiracial movement. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/what-is-accurately-portrayed-is-the-rich-humanity-not-just-of-martin/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [He is not humanity deified. He is not Godhead humanized. He is God. He is man. He is all that God is, and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/he-is-not-humanity-deified-he-is-not-godhead-humanized-he-is-god-he/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-must-not-lose-faith-in-humanity-humanity-is-like-an-ocean-if-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 9,796 Humanity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We set rules in times when they make sense. Then the times change but the rules stay: they don't make sense anymore, but we still obey. 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