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

Build your own Chesterton's Fence with AI.

Free plan · no credit card · web, iPhone & iPad

Start free →
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

Mental Models

Hanlon's Razor

Don't attribute to malice what stupidity explains

Mental Models

Occam's Razor

Prefer the simplest explanation

Mental Models

First Principles

Reduce to atomic truths, rebuild up

Want to fill in your own Chesterton's Fence?
Open in Framework →