Framework
Mental Models

Chesterton's Fence

Don't remove what you don't understand

Best for
pausing before the rewrite
Time
15–30 min
Difficulty
Beginner

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Chesterton's Fence diagramSchematic of the Chesterton's Fence framework: Don't remove what you don't understand.FenceReason?Then remove
The Chesterton's Fence diagram — Don't remove what you don't understand.
Example

New manager wants to remove a weird-looking approval step

Pause before the rewrite
  1. Existing rule — every export to PDF needs second approval
  2. Tempting move — "obviously useless; cut it"
  3. Chesterton check — why was it added? Talk to whoever introduced it
  4. Reason — a 2019 GDPR incident triggered a regulator visit
  5. Decision — keep step but make it 1-click; preserve audit trail

Related frameworks

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Hanlon's Razor

Don't attribute to malice what stupidity explains

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Occam's Razor

Prefer the simplest explanation

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First Principles

Reduce to atomic truths, rebuild up

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