Who said “Any fool can make a rule, and every fool will mind it.”?

Verified

Henry David Thoreau. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceJournals (1838-1859), February 3, 1860

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Journals (1838-1859), February 3, 1860.

APA

Thoreau, H. D. (n.d.). Any fool can make a rule, and every fool will mind it. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36419-any-fool-can-make-a-rule-and-every/

MLA

Thoreau, Henry David. “Any fool can make a rule, and every fool will mind it.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36419-any-fool-can-make-a-rule-and-every/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Thoreau, Henry David. “Any fool can make a rule, and every fool will mind it.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36419-any-fool-can-make-a-rule-and-every/.