The first law of holes, or the 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]
An excavator that is in a hole, and per the Law of Holes, has stopped digging.
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]
Attribution
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]
^ abSpeake, Jennifer (2015). "When you are in a hole, stop digging". Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (6 ed.). ISBN978-0-19-873490-1.
^Moore, Merton (4 December 1920). Stop Digging—Climb. Vol. XVII. Holstein-Friesian World. p. 34. from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021. 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.'
^ abApperson, George Latimer (2006). The Wordsworth Dictionary of Proverbs. Ware: Wordsworth Editions. p. 283. ISBN978-1840223118.
^The Dictionary of Modern Proverbs. Yale University Press. 22 May 2012. ISBN978-0-300-18335-1. from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
^Tech With Tech (23 October 2020). "The 5 Laws of Holes (+ Examples for Each)". Tech With Tech. from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
^"Letting Bryan Down Easy". The Washington Post. 25 October 1911. p. 6. from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021 – via newspapers.com.
^Is That Dirt Being Shoveled?. The Bankers Magazine. Vol. 166. Warren, Gorham & Lamont. 1983. p. 61. LCCN 89657447. from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
January 06, 2023
holes, first, holes, holes, adage, which, states, find, yourself, hole, stop, digging, used, metaphor, warning, that, when, untenable, position, best, stop, making, situation, worse, excavator, that, hole, holes, stopped, digging, contents, background, attribu. The first law of holes or the 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 An excavator that is in a hole and per the Law of Holes has stopped digging Contents 1 Background 2 Attribution 3 See also 4 ReferencesBackground EditWhen 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 Attribution EditThe 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 See also EditEscalation of commitment Gresham s lawReferences Edit a b Speake Jennifer 2015 When you are in a hole stop digging Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs 6 ed ISBN 978 0 19 873490 1 Moore Merton 4 December 1920 Stop Digging Climb Vol XVII Holstein Friesian World p 34 Archived from the original on 26 December 2021 Retrieved 17 November 2021 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 a b Apperson George Latimer 2006 The Wordsworth Dictionary of Proverbs Ware Wordsworth Editions p 283 ISBN 978 1840223118 a b Lloyd John Hargreaves Ian 8 November 1996 Interview Denis Healey Healey s first law of holes is to stop digging New Statesman Vol 9 The Dictionary of Modern Proverbs Yale University Press 22 May 2012 ISBN 978 0 300 18335 1 Archived from the original on 26 December 2021 Retrieved 17 November 2021 Tech With Tech 23 October 2020 The 5 Laws of Holes Examples for Each Tech With Tech Archived from the original on 14 August 2021 Retrieved 14 August 2021 Doyle Charles Clay Mieder Wolfgang Shapiro Fred R 2012 The Dictionary of Modern Proverbs New Haven Yale University Press ISBN 9780300136029 Letting Bryan Down Easy The Washington Post 25 October 1911 p 6 Archived from the original on 13 September 2021 Retrieved 12 September 2021 via newspapers com Is That Dirt Being Shoveled The Bankers Magazine Vol 166 Warren Gorham amp Lamont 1983 p 61 LCCN 89657447 Archived from the original on 26 December 2021 Retrieved 24 November 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Law of holes amp oldid 1128796147, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
