Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater
When reforming or changing systems
Understanding the Rule
When removing bad elements, don't discard good parts too. Distinguish valuable from problematic. Wholesale rejection loses what works while fixing what doesn't.
What Happens When You Break It
Wholesale rejection loses valuable elements, requires rebuilding from scratch, wastes working components, and often produces worse results than surgical fixes.
Benefits of Following This Rule
Discriminating change preserves value, focuses effort on real problems, maintains working elements, produces better outcomes, and demonstrates wisdom.