# Wanted: Exceptions for every rule **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 21, 2008, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-exceptions-for-every-rule/446246 "2008-04-21T16:38:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-exceptions-for-every-rule/446246/1 "2008-04-21T16:38:35Z")
Look before you leap – He who hesitates is lost ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-exceptions-for-every-rule/446246/2 "2008-04-21T16:48:20Z")
Many hands make light work, but too many cooks spoil the broth. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-exceptions-for-every-rule/446246/3 "2008-04-21T17:07:15Z")
A fool and his money are soon parted – unless you’re Paris Hilton. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-exceptions-for-every-rule/446246/4 "2008-04-21T17:17:34Z")
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush - until it poops on you. Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched - unless you want to know how many eggs you have. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-exceptions-for-every-rule/446246/5 "2008-04-21T18:48:45Z")
[QUOTE=glee] Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched - unless you want to know how many eggs you have. [/QUOTE] But then you would be counting eggs instead of chickens! ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-exceptions-for-every-rule/446246/6 "2008-04-21T19:09:28Z")
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-exceptions-for-every-rule/446246/7 "2008-04-21T21:07:38Z")
The squeaky wheel gets the grease, but the nail that stands up get pounded down. ---
**Author:** ![Carnacki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Carnacki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnacki)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-exceptions-for-every-rule/446246/8 "2008-04-21T21:07:46Z")
Out of sight, out of mind – and yet, absence makes the heart grow fonder. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-exceptions-for-every-rule/446246/9 "2008-04-21T22:52:36Z")
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but if you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-exceptions-for-every-rule/446246/10 "2008-04-21T23:19:21Z")
Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth but beware of Greeks bearing gifts. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-exceptions-for-every-rule/446246/11 "2008-04-21T23:29:05Z")
You’re never too old to learn, but you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. (Also, just wondering: If “there is an exception to every rule” is a rule, does it have an exception?) ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-exceptions-for-every-rule/446246/12 "2008-04-22T00:24:34Z")
When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. - You may think you have eliminated everything you know is impossible, but if you have not the only thing that remains may not be the truth even though you think it is. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-exceptions-for-every-rule/446246/13 "2008-04-22T00:40:36Z")
Oops. Posted in wrong thread. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-exceptions-for-every-rule/446246/14 "2008-04-22T00:59:33Z")
At first you don’t succeed, try, try again–then give up. (There’s no use in being a damn fool about it.) (Plagiarized quote) ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-exceptions-for-every-rule/446246/15 "2008-04-22T01:05:25Z")
Nothing ventured, nothing gained \<—\> a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-exceptions-for-every-rule/446246/16 "2008-04-22T01:48:17Z")
All generalizations are false. Including this one. Moderation in all things, including moderation. Question authority?!? Cite? I’ve given up all my vices - except lying. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-exceptions-for-every-rule/446246/17 "2008-04-22T03:08:41Z")
[The doctors say I have to stay away from aphorisms now.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=455464&page=1&pp=50&highlight=rocket+surgery) ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-exceptions-for-every-rule/446246/18 "2008-04-22T11:09:50Z")
[QUOTE=Peak Banana] You’re never too old to learn, but you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. (Also, just wondering: If “there is an exception to every rule” is a rule, does it have an exception?) [/QUOTE] There is an exception to every rule, but every rule has an exception. Daniel