Aggravated Quote by Wallace Stegner
“It is the beginning of wisdom when you recognize that the best you can do is choose which rules you want to live by, and it's persistent and aggravated imbecility to pretend you can live without any.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Spectator Bird by Wallace Stegner, 1977
Wisdom starts when you accept you must choose which rules to follow, and reject the illusion of living rulelessly.
In simple terms: Choose guiding rules, reject rule‑free illusion.
Key Takeaway
Pick and live by purposeful principles.
Themes
wisdom
choice
principles
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
advice
When to use this quote
- career decisions
- personal relationships
- ethical dilemmas
- social norms
Key Concepts
ethical agency
personal autonomy
Questions to Reflect On
- What rules truly serve you?
- How do you balance freedom with structure?
A Different Perspective
Choosing rules can limit flexibility and creativity.
![“I think we should stop treating ["God works in mysterious ways"] as any kind of wisdom and recognize it as the transparently defensive propaganda that it is. A positive response might be, "Oh good! I love a mystery. Let's see if we can solve this one, too. Do you have any ideas?” quote by Daniel C. Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/33a/daniel-c-dennett-17655_apologetics_i-think-we-should-stop-treating-god-work_310612.jpg)
![“I take life for what it has to offer me. I don't get aggravated about [getting older]. The wrinkles on my face are a natural process, so why should I get angry?” quote by Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/edb/eartha-kitt-4073_aggravated_i-take-life-for-what-it-has-to-offer-me_340209.jpg)
![“Called on the people of New Hampshire . . . to confess before God their aggravated transgressions and to implore His pardon and forgiveness through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ . . . [t]hat the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ may be made known to all nations, pure and undefiled…” quote by Josiah Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2da/josiah-bartlett-62321_aggravated_called-on-the-people-of-new-hampshire-to_579096.jpg)
