If it is not broken, do not fix it
Today’s reflection connects naturally to yesterday’s thought on the permanence of the provisional.
This saying, with its seemingly straightforward, almost engineering-like clarity, in fact contains a pragmatic, conservative — and at times dangerous — philosophy.
Its concise form is a call for caution: if something works, even imperfectly, it is best not to interfere.
Changing something that appears to be holding together may trigger unforeseen consequences or destabilise precarious yet functioning balances.
In business management, technical maintenance, politics or personal relationships, this phrase is often invoked as a rule of common sense:
- Avoid unnecessary interventions
- Do not create problems where none exist
- Do not confuse the urge to innovate with the need to change
However, when applied mechanically, this principle can become an obstacle:
- A system may not be broken, but still be outdated
- A routine may function, but only because people have grown used to its flaws
- A relationship may endure, but at the cost of honesty or wellbeing
The line between prudence and inertia is a thin one — and easily crossed.
“If it is not broken, do not fix it” can become a convenient excuse to avoid decisions, to shun responsibility for improvement, to hide from the risks of change.
And perhaps today, a more fitting version would be: “Just because it is not broken, does not mean it is working well.”
In a world where problems often reveal themselves only after something has already failed, true foresight lies in seeing beyond surface stability.
“If it is not broken, do not fix it” is a lesson in caution — but it must not be mistaken for dogma.
Sometimes, the wisest course is to improve something before it breaks — or precisely because it has not yet broken.
That, too, is a mark of vision.