"Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it"

This quote by Henry David Thoreau is a commentary on the propensity of people to blindly follow guidelines and policies without questioning their credibility. He is suggesting that it is simple to create rules, however it takes a sensible person to recognize when a rule needs to be followed and when it ought to be challenged. He is suggesting that it is silly to merely accept rules without considering their purpose and whether they are beneficial. He is also suggesting that it is essential to think for oneself and to be ready to challenge the status quo. By doing so, one can make sure that the rules and guidelines that are in location are actually useful and not just approximate. Eventually, Thoreau is encouraging people to think on their own and to be willing to challenge the rules that are in place.