The law of holes, or the first law of holes, is an adage which states: "if you find yourself in a hole, stop digging." It is used as a metaphor, warning that when in an untenable position, it is best to stop making the situation worse. [1] [2]
When it is said, "if you find yourself in a hole, stop digging", [3] [4] [1] [5] it is because digging a hole makes it deeper and therefore harder to get out of. More generally, the adage advises how one should solve problems of their own making.
The second law of holes is commonly known as: "when you stop digging, you are still in a hole." [6]
The adage has been attributed to a number of sources. It appeared in print on page six of The Washington Post dated 25 October 1911, in the form: "Nor would a wise man, seeing that he was in a hole, go to work and blindly dig it deeper..." [7] [8]
In 1983, Bill Brock was quoted "Let me tell you about the law of holes: If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging." [9]
In the United Kingdom, it has been referred to as "Healey's first law of holes" [4] after politician Denis Healey, who used the adage in the 1980s and later. [3]
I have studied this situation thoroughly in five states and in close relation to hundreds of dairymen and the answer to 'Hard Times' is 'If you are in a hole, stop digging - raise your head - open your eyes - think - study -climb.'
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The law of holes, or the first law of holes, is an adage which states: "if you find yourself in a hole, stop digging." It is used as a metaphor, warning that when in an untenable position, it is best to stop making the situation worse. [1] [2]
When it is said, "if you find yourself in a hole, stop digging", [3] [4] [1] [5] it is because digging a hole makes it deeper and therefore harder to get out of. More generally, the adage advises how one should solve problems of their own making.
The second law of holes is commonly known as: "when you stop digging, you are still in a hole." [6]
The adage has been attributed to a number of sources. It appeared in print on page six of The Washington Post dated 25 October 1911, in the form: "Nor would a wise man, seeing that he was in a hole, go to work and blindly dig it deeper..." [7] [8]
In 1983, Bill Brock was quoted "Let me tell you about the law of holes: If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging." [9]
In the United Kingdom, it has been referred to as "Healey's first law of holes" [4] after politician Denis Healey, who used the adage in the 1980s and later. [3]
I have studied this situation thoroughly in five states and in close relation to hundreds of dairymen and the answer to 'Hard Times' is 'If you are in a hole, stop digging - raise your head - open your eyes - think - study -climb.'
{{
cite book}}
: |work=
ignored (
help)