- Falkland’s Law
Origin & Time: Often misattributed or confused, this “law” isn’t an actual codified principle but comes from a quote by Lucius Cary, 2nd Viscount Falkland (1610–1643), a Royalist during the English Civil War.
Meaning: His famous line—”When it is not necessary to change, it is necessary not to change.”—is cited in debates on conservatism or legal/political inertia.
Place: England, in the context of parliamentary debates.
Essence: Advocates minimalism in lawmaking and reform.
- Wilson’s Law
Origin & Time: There are a few interpretations; the most recognized version in tech refers to Robert Anton Wilson, though some also refer to a political maxim.
Meaning: “Reality is what you can get away with.” A deeper dive sees it as a commentary on the subjective nature of truth and perception in power structures.
Place: United States, especially within counterculture and libertarian circles from the 1970s onward.
Essence: Truth is fluid, often shaped by influence or enforcement.
- Gilbert’s Law
Origin & Time: Attributed to Dr. John Gilbert, this law comes from observations in organizational behavior.
Meaning: “The biggest problem at work is that nobody tells you what to do, and they all expect you to know.” This highlights inefficiencies in communication within large systems.
Place: Likely the U.S., mid-to-late 20th century.
Essence: Communication breakdowns are the root of workplace dysfunction.
- Kidlin’s Law
Origin & Time: Not formally academic; it emerged as part of business or productivity folk wisdom.
Meaning: “If you write the problem down clearly, the matter becomes half solved.”
Place: Popular in the U.S. through management seminars and productivity books in the late 20th century.
Essence: Clarity in articulation is a prerequisite for effective problem-solving.
- Murphy’s Law
Origin & Time: U.S. military, 1949, named after Edward A. Murphy Jr., an Air Force engineer.
Meaning: “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.”
Place: Edwards Air Force Base, California.
Essence: A caution about planning, testing, and preparing for failure in engineering or life.