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General Rule Quotes

The rules of thumb people actually live by.

A 'general rule' is shorthand for hard-won experience — like not moving too fast in love, or accepting that Bad people rarely see themselves that way. These quotes collect that kind of practical wisdom.

As a general rule of thumb, Democrats do better in national elections when the year's defining issue is economic fairness, and Republicans do better when the defining issue is national security.

Quotes by Rick Perlstein

One of the things in my experience about changing parties: There are very few exceptions to the general rule. And the general rule has been, people are going to invite you into the church, but they are not going to...

Quotes by Pete Gallego

I mean, the general rule is if you're not prepared to make a mistake, you're not going to make much progress.

Quotes by Maurice Wilkins

Usually, characters that are doing something nefarious have some extra layers to them. The general rule is bad people don't necessarily think they are bad.

Quotes by Jason Alexander

Act Quotes

Everyone confesses that exertion which brings out all the powers of body and mind is the best thing for us; but most people do all they can to get rid of it, and as a general rule nobody does much...

Quotes by Harriet Beecher Stowe

As to the deceit perpetrated upon women, let it pass, for, when love is in the way, men and women as a general rule dupe each other.

Quotes by Giacomo Casanova

The general rule is that anything that is passed on in reproduction does not undergo senescence.

Quotes by George C. Williams

So far I go with the Socialists as to think it a pretty general rule that, where monopoly is necessary, it is better in public hands.

Quotes by Frederick Pollock

The real trouble with the writing game is that no general rule can be worked out for uniform guidance, and this applies to sales as well as to writing.

Quotes by Erle Stanley Gardner

Anything Quotes

Though every legal task demands this skill, it is especially important in the effort to frame public policy in a way that is properly responsive to human needs and predicaments. The question is always: How will the general rule work...

Quotes by Elliot Richardson

My only general rule was to steer away from things I played with the band over the past couple of tours. I was interested in re-shaping the Rising material for live shows, so people could hear the bare bones of...

Quotes by Bruce Springsteen

I mean, most actresses can't host and most hostesses can't act, and that's the general rule in the industry.

Quotes by Brooke Burke

The general rule is that entrepreneurs need the fear of their brand's demise to make it magic. It is too safe to do it as a corporate subsidiary.

Quotes by Andy Dunn

The general rule is to not jump into moving in with whoever you're nutty for. But, you know, I was in a bad relationship, and the day I got out of it, I moved in with Ciera, and she ended...

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a quote a 'general rule' quote?
These are lines where someone states a rule of thumb before they Act — practical wisdom like not being afraid to make mistakes if you want real progress.
What topics do these general rules cover?
A wide range — creative risk-taking, relationship timing, character writing, and even how economic versus security issues shape national elections.
Is there a quote here about writing believable characters?
Yes — one notes that even characters doing something nefarious rarely think of themselves as Bad, offered as a general rule for writing convincing villains.
Are any of these quotes about relationships?
One warns against the general rule of moving in with someone too quickly, told through a personal story about a relationship that broke that rule and worked out anyway.
Why do people like quoting 'general rules'?
They compress hard-won experience into something short and repeatable — a mental shortcut people can put to use immediately, which is exactly why they get shared as quotes.

From creative advice to relationship lessons, these lines show how people turn observation into a rule worth repeating — read on for the Best of them.