--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The impulse to freeze the system, to try…" description: "\"The impulse to freeze the system, to try to tape all the cracks and staple all the cleavages, to ensure that nobody has to explain to their kid why Chr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/will-wilkinson-87105_christmas_the-impulse-to-freeze-the-system-to-try_2305073.jpg" --- # The impulse to freeze the system, to try to tape all the… ![“The impulse to freeze the system, to try to tape all the cracks and staple all the cleavages, to ensure that nobody has to explain to their kid why Christmas this year is going to be a lousy Christmas, that is one of our greatest dangers.” quote by Will Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/will-wilkinson-87105_christmas_the-impulse-to-freeze-the-system-to-try_2305073.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/will-wilkinson-87105_christmas_the-impulse-to-freeze-the-system-to-try_2305073.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/will-wilkinson-87105_christmas_the-impulse-to-freeze-the-system-to-try_2305073.jpg) > “The impulse to freeze the system, to try to tape all the cracks and staple all the cleavages, to ensure that nobody has to explain to their kid why Christmas this year is going to be a lousy Christmas, that is one of our greatest dangers.” Will Wilkinson ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempting to eliminate all imperfections and explain everything can create a sterile, joyless world, risking loss of authenticity and freedom. **In simple terms:** Over‑control harms freedom and joy. Key Takeaway Embrace imperfection and uncertainty. Themes control authenticity family society Mood cautious reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - parenting - education - policy making - media consumption Key Concepts psychology social critique risk management Questions to Reflect On - How does over‑control affect personal happiness? - What balance of control is healthy? A Different Perspective Too much control can stifle creativity and resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) ## Related quotes > [“The greatest dangers you can get into are the ones you see coming. The ones that just happen are just roads waiting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-manful/the-greatest-dangers-you-can-get-into-are-the-ones-you-see-coming-the/) [Melody Manful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-manful/) > [For a man who is lost, the three greatest dangers in order of importance, are Fear, Cold, and Hunger. He may endure extreme hunger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-thompson-seton/for-a-man-who-is-lost-the-three-greatest-dangers-in-order-of/) [Ernest Thompson Seton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-thompson-seton/) > [I am one who believes that one of the greatest dangers of advertising is not that of misleading people, but that of boring them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-burnett/i-am-one-who-believes-that-one-of-the-greatest-dangers-of-advertising/) [Leo Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-burnett/) > [It is from the greatest dangers that the greatest glory is to be won.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/it-is-from-the-greatest-dangers-that-the-greatest-glory-is-to-be-won/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [I, however, place economy among the first and most important republican virtues, and public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-however-place-economy-among-the-first-and-most-important-republican/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I, place economy among the first & most important republican virtues, & public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-place-economy-among-the-first-most-important-republican-virtues/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Where do your greatest dangers lie?--In pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/where-do-your-greatest-dangers-lie-in-pity/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [In survey after survey, people report that the greatest dangers they face are, in this order: terrorist attack, plane crashes and nuclear accidents. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-self/in-survey-after-survey-people-report-that-the-greatest-dangers-they/) [Will Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-self/) > [“Every scholar knew that one of the greatest dangers in research was the desire to find a specific answer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/every-scholar-knew-that-one-of-the-greatest-dangers-in-research-was/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [The greatest dangers have their allurements, if the want of success is likely to be attended with a degree of glory. Middling dangers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/the-greatest-dangers-have-their-allurements-if-the-want-of-success-is/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in the insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/the-greatest-dangers-to-liberty-lurk-in-the-insidious-encroachment-by/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [It's a sad Christmas this year because of the absence of peace in the city or peace and joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-a-sad-christmas-this-year-because-of-the-absence-of-peace-in-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nuclear proliferation - the proliferation of WMDs altogether - is one of the greatest dangers of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/nuclear-proliferation-the-proliferation-of-wmds-altogether-is-one-of/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [May the joy and peace of Christmas be with you all through the Year. Wishing you a season of blessings from heaven above. Merry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-the-joy-and-peace-of-christmas-be-with-you-all-through-the-year/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The armament industry is indeed one of the greatest dangers that beset mankind. It is the hidden evil power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-armament-industry-is-indeed-one-of-the-greatest-dangers-that/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) ## More by Will Wilkinson > [Libertarians are liberals who like markets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-wilkinson/libertarians-are-liberals-who-like-markets/) Will Wilkinson > [There is no justice, and great harm, in diminishing the whole array of future opportunity to save a few people now from a regrettable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-wilkinson/there-is-no-justice-and-great-harm-in-diminishing-the-whole-array-of/) Will Wilkinson Explore all 3 Will Wilkinson quotes ## More Christmas quotes > [The notion of a non-religious Christmas is ridiculous. But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying, toys not included.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-manning/i-once-bought-my-kids-a-set-of-batteries-for-christmas-with-a-note-on/) [Bernard Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-manning/) > [May you have the spirit of Christmas which is Peace, the gladness of Christmas which is Hope, and the Heart of Christmas which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-you-have-the-spirit-of-christmas-which-is-peace-the-gladness-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To my future children; you will know the true meaning of Christmas just not you get gifts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-my-future-children-you-will-know-the-true-meaning-of-christmas/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No sane local official who has hung up an empty stocking over the municipal fireplace is going to shoot Santa Claus just before a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-smith/no-sane-local-official-who-has-hung-up-an-empty-stocking-over-the/) [Al Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-smith/) > [A new heart for a New Year, always!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/a-new-heart-for-a-new-year-always/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Santa Claus has nothing to do with it," the latke said. "Christmas and Hanukah are completely different things." "But different things can often blend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/santa-claus-has-nothing-to-do-with-it-the-latke-said-christmas-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For Christmas one year I bought my son a BB gun. He bought me a t-shirt with a bulls eye on the back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/for-christmas-one-year-i-bought-my-son-a-bb-gun-he-bought-me-a-t/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [“Why did he hesitate? He finally admitted to himself that he was like an American child who was almost completely certain about Santa Claus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/why-did-he-hesitate-he-finally-admitted-to-himself-that-he-was-like/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [There seems a magic in the very name of Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-seems-a-magic-in-the-very-name-of-christmas/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Heaven? Floating about with everyone you ever knew for eternity? Me family does me 'ed in after one day at xmas, I'd rather be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/heaven-floating-about-with-everyone-you-ever-knew-for-eternity-me/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [Like everyone in his right mind, I feared Santa Claus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/like-everyone-in-his-right-mind-i-feared-santa-claus/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“I stopped keeping an eye out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve because, when I was five, my mother told me that Santa was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/i-stopped-keeping-an-eye-out-for-santa-claus-on-christmas-eve-because/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [On Hanukkah, the first dark night, Light yourself a candle bright. I'll you, if you will me invite To dance within that gentle light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-gordon/on-hanukkah-the-first-dark-night-light-yourself-a-candle-bright-i-ll/) [Nick Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-gordon/) [Browse all 5,100 Christmas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The impulse to freeze the system, to try to tape all the cracks and staple all the cleavages, to ensure that nobody has to explain to their kid why Christmas this year is going to be a lousy Christmas, that is one of our greatest dangers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Will Wilkinson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-wilkinson/the-impulse-to-freeze-the-system-to-try-to-tape-all-the-cracks-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christmas" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-wilkinson/the-impulse-to-freeze-the-system-to-try-to-tape-all-the-cracks-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/will-wilkinson-87105_christmas_the-impulse-to-freeze-the-system-to-try_2305073.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/will-wilkinson-87105_christmas_the-impulse-to-freeze-the-system-to-try_2305073.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/will-wilkinson-87105_christmas_the-impulse-to-freeze-the-system-to-try_2305073.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The impulse to freeze the system, to try to tape all the cracks and staple all the cleavages, to ensure that…” — Will Wilkinson", "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": "Will Wilkinson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-wilkinson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The impulse to freeze the system,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-wilkinson/the-impulse-to-freeze-the-system-to-try-to-tape-all-the-cracks-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-wilkinson/the-impulse-to-freeze-the-system-to-try-to-tape-all-the-cracks-and/#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 } } ] } ```