Merge branch 'master' of https://github.com/aetiusflavius/hacker-laws …

…into aetiusflavius-master

README.md

@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ Like this project? Please considering [sponsoring me](https://github.com/sponsor
     * [Wadler's Law](#wadlers-law)
     * [Wheaton's Law](#wheatons-law)
 * [Principles](#principles)
+    * [Chesterson's Fence](#chestersons-fence)
     * [The Dead Sea Effect](#the-dead-sea-effect)
     * [The Dilbert Principle](#the-dilbert-principle)
     * [The Pareto Principle (The 80/20 Rule)](#the-pareto-principle-the-8020-rule)
@@ -625,6 +626,16 @@ Coined by Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Big Bang Theory), thi
 
 Principles are generally more likely to be guidelines relating to design.
 
+### Chesterson's Fence
+
+[Chesterson's Fence on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Chesterton%27s_fence)
+
+> Reforms should not be made until the reasoning behind the existing state of affairs is understood.
+
+This principle is relevant in software engineering when removing technical debt. Each line of a program was originally written by someone for some reason. Chesterson's Fence suggests that one should try to understand the context and meaning of the code fully, before changing or removing it, even if at first glance it seems redundant or incorrect.
+
+The name of this principle comes from a story by [G.K. Chesterson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._K._Chesterton). A man comes across a fence crossing the middle of the road. He complains to the mayor that this useless fence is getting in the way, and asks to remove it. The mayor asks why the fence is there in the first place. When the man says he doesn't know, the mayor says, "If you don't know its purpose, I certainly won't let you remove it. Go and find out the use of it, and then I may let you destroy it."
+
 ### The Dead Sea Effect
 
 [The Dead Sea Effect on Bruce F. Webster](http://brucefwebster.com/2008/04/11/the-wetware-crisis-the-dead-sea-effect/)
@@ -637,7 +648,6 @@ The "Dead Sea Effect" suggests that in any organisation, the skills/talent/effic
 
 Typically, highly skilled engineers find it easy to gain employment elsewhere and are the first to do so. Engineers who have obsolete or weak skills will tend to remain with the company, as finding employment elsewhere is difficult. This is particularly pronounced if they have gained incremental pay rises over their time in the company, as it can be challenging to get equivalent remuneration elsewhere.
 
-
 ### The Dilbert Principle
 
 [The Dilbert Principle on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilbert_principle)