--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We've been trained to squint into a legal…" description: "\"We've been trained to squint into a legal microscope, hoping that we can judge any dispute against the standard of a perfect society where everyone wil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/philip-k-howard-33727_accidents_we-ve-been-trained-to-squint-into-a-lega_2458238.jpg" --- # We've been trained to squint into a legal microscope… ![“We've been trained to squint into a legal microscope, hoping that we can judge any dispute against the standard of a perfect society where everyone will agree what's fair, and where accidents will be extinct, and risk will be no more.” quote by Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/philip-k-howard-33727_accidents_we-ve-been-trained-to-squint-into-a-lega_2458238.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/philip-k-howard-33727_accidents_we-ve-been-trained-to-squint-into-a-lega_2458238.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/philip-k-howard-33727_accidents_we-ve-been-trained-to-squint-into-a-lega_2458238.jpg) > “We've been trained to squint into a legal microscope, hoping that we can judge any dispute against the standard of a perfect society where everyone will agree what's fair, and where accidents will be extinct, and risk will be no more.” [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We over‑analyze disputes using an impossible ideal of perfect fairness, ignoring real‑world complexity. **In simple terms:** We judge by unrealistic standards. Key Takeaway Accept imperfect fairness. Themes justice perfection law society Mood reflective critical analytical Type philosophical commentary When to use this quote - courtrooms - policy debates - conflict resolution - media analysis Key Concepts ethical relativism idealism risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - How does striving for perfection affect real decisions? - Can we balance ideals with practicality? A Different Perspective Perfect fairness is unattainable and can hinder practical solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Perfect society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-society/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) ## Related quotes > [At the end of my trial, I was rather hoping the judge would send me to Australia for the rest of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/at-the-end-of-my-trial-i-was-rather-hoping-the-judge-would-send-me-to/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [I'm hoping that judge ain't blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/i-m-hoping-that-judge-ain-t-blind/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [“Neurotic: The one who is so obsessed with himself or herself, that believes everything I post on Facebook is a personalized message, and reacts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/neurotic-the-one-who-is-so-obsessed-with-himself-or-herself-that/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [Swedes are such a civilised, perfect society - at least on the surface. There's a great safety net, a huge middle class, free education,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-skarsgard/swedes-are-such-a-civilised-perfect-society-at-least-on-the-surface/) [Alexander Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-skarsgard/) > [Our notion of the perfect society embraces the family as its center and ornament, and this paradise is not secure until children appear to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-bronson-alcott/our-notion-of-the-perfect-society-embraces-the-family-as-its-center/) [Amos Bronson Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-bronson-alcott/) > [Perfection is impossible in an imperfect society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peixin-sammy-zhong/perfection-is-impossible-in-an-imperfect-society/) Peixin Sammy Zhong > [I have no notions of a perfect society, I don’t know what that means. I know we can do much better than what we’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/i-have-no-notions-of-a-perfect-society-i-don-t-know-what-that-means-i/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [“It is my argument that American liberalism is a totalitarian political religion, but not necessarily an Orwellian one. It is nice, not brutal. Nannying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/it-is-my-argument-that-american-liberalism-is-a-totalitarian/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) > [When such a perfect society will be created or if it will ever be created is a question as difficult to answer as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/when-such-a-perfect-society-will-be-created-or-if-it-will-ever-be/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [“The perfect society to which we aspire in theory may become a powerful enemy of the good society we can become in fact.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-sagoff/the-perfect-society-to-which-we-aspire-in-theory-may-become-a/) Mark Sagoff > [A perfect society is built upon mutual trust. Character is the source of that trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/a-perfect-society-is-built-upon-mutual-trust-character-is-the-source/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [“A brick could be used to create a new society, a perfect society, where there is no inequality, there are no laws, and most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-brick-could-be-used-to-create-a-new-society-a-perfect-society-where/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I sense that man lives life in the eyes that the world revolves around him.if man were to change that perspective that all revolve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-shaylitsa/i-sense-that-man-lives-life-in-the-eyes-that-the-world-revolves/) [Edward Shaylitsa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-shaylitsa/) > [Utopian fiction is really boring. I had to read a lot of it, and it's not that much fun. But they're fascinating to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-jennings/utopian-fiction-is-really-boring-i-had-to-read-a-lot-of-it-and-it-s/) [Christine Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-jennings/) > [As we grew to love South Australia, we felt that we were in an expanding society, still feeling the bond to the motherland, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-helen-spence/as-we-grew-to-love-south-australia-we-felt-that-we-were-in-an/) [Catherine Helen Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-helen-spence/) ## More by Philip K. Howard > [“Plato argued that good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will always find a way around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/plato-argued-that-good-people-do-not-need-laws-to-tell-them-to-act/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) > [“Uniformity in the common law, consisting of broad principles like the "reasonable person" standard, generally permits adjustment for the circumstances. This type of uniform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/uniformity-in-the-common-law-consisting-of-broad-principles-like-the/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) > [We should stop looking to law to provide the final answer… Law cannot save us from ourselves… We have to go out and try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/we-should-stop-looking-to-law-to-provide-the-final-answer-law-cannot/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) > [Human nature turns out to be more complicated than the idea that people will get along if only the rules are clear enough. Uncertainty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/human-nature-turns-out-to-be-more-complicated-than-the-idea-that/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) > [“Overthrow the bureaucracy, and return to a system based on human responsibility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/overthrow-the-bureaucracy-and-return-to-a-system-based-on-human/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) > [“By exiling human judgment in the last few decades, modern law changed role from useful tool to brainless tyrant. This legal regime will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/by-exiling-human-judgment-in-the-last-few-decades-modern-law-changed/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) > [“In 2010, 70 percent of federal tax revenue was consumed by three entitlement programs (Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/in-2010-70-percent-of-federal-tax-revenue-was-consumed-by-three/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) > [Coercion by government, the main fear of our founding fathers, is now its most common attribute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/coercion-by-government-the-main-fear-of-our-founding-fathers-is-now/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) > [“We must abandon our belief that human choice denigrates the Rule of Law.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/we-must-abandon-our-belief-that-human-choice-denigrates-the-rule-of/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) > [“Automatic law corrodes our freedom”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/automatic-law-corrodes-our-freedom/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) > [Rights are not the language of democracy. Compromise is what democracy is about. Rights are the language of freedom, and are absolute because their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/rights-are-not-the-language-of-democracy-compromise-is-what-democracy/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) > [“Mindless rules, not accountable officials, are the enemy of freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/mindless-rules-not-accountable-officials-are-the-enemy-of-freedom/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) > [“The difficulty lies, not in the new ideas,” John Maynard Keynes famously observed, “but in escaping from the old ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/the-difficulty-lies-not-in-the-new-ideas-john-maynard-keynes-famously/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) [Explore all 14 Philip K. Howard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) ## More Accidents quotes > [Almost all accidents take place because of human distraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/almost-all-accidents-take-place-because-of-human-distraction/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/no-i-think-most-astronauts-recognize-that-the-space-shuttle-program/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [The only way to have a funeral is to invite everyone who ever knew the person and just wait for the accident to happen-somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-only-way-to-have-a-funeral-is-to-invite-everyone-who-ever-knew/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Good films are not made by accident, nor is good photography. You can have good things happen, on occasion, by accident that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/good-films-are-not-made-by-accident-nor-is-good-photography-you-can/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [By education I am an Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim and a Hindu only by accident of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/by-education-i-am-an-englishman-by-views-an-internationalist-by/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [I made out with a homeless guy by accident. I had no idea -- he was really tan, he had no shoes on. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-made-out-with-a-homeless-guy-by-accident-i-had-no-idea-he-was/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/) [Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/) > [In a city where you walk around, it's impossible to plan your day and your life as accidents will happen, you'll overhear things, bump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schwartzman/in-a-city-where-you-walk-around-it-s-impossible-to-plan-your-day-and/) [Jason Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schwartzman/) > [I don't think it's by accident that I was first attracted to translating two French women poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-hacker/i-don-t-think-it-s-by-accident-that-i-was-first-attracted-to/) [Marilyn Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-hacker/) > [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. (As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/despite-my-mentors-advice-that-i-would-never-go-to-heaven-fishing/) [Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/) > [Dont stand outside in a lightning shower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padraig/dont-stand-outside-in-a-lightning-shower/) [Padraig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padraig/) > [In the eyes of those lovers of perfection, a work is never finished a word that for them has no sense but abandoned; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/in-the-eyes-of-those-lovers-of-perfection-a-work-is-never-finished-a/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [My musical career was an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/my-musical-career-was-an-accident/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) [Browse all 1,971 Accidents quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We've been trained to squint into a legal microscope, hoping that we can judge any dispute against the standard of a perfect society where everyone will agree what's fair, and where accidents will be extinct, and risk will be no more.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Philip K. Howard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/we-ve-been-trained-to-squint-into-a-legal-microscope-hoping-that-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accidents" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/we-ve-been-trained-to-squint-into-a-legal-microscope-hoping-that-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/philip-k-howard-33727_accidents_we-ve-been-trained-to-squint-into-a-lega_2458238.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/philip-k-howard-33727_accidents_we-ve-been-trained-to-squint-into-a-lega_2458238.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/philip-k-howard-33727_accidents_we-ve-been-trained-to-squint-into-a-lega_2458238.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We've been trained to squint into a legal microscope, hoping that we can judge any dispute against the…” — Philip K. Howard", "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": "Philip K. Howard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We've been trained to squint into...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/we-ve-been-trained-to-squint-into-a-legal-microscope-hoping-that-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/we-ve-been-trained-to-squint-into-a-legal-microscope-hoping-that-we/#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 } } ] } ```