Originally Posted by
Pilot DAR
I see Mr. Bader's quote as being able to be interpreted two ways: Wise men will generally do what the rule said anyway, to avoid being in the situation the rule is there to prevent. Fools may get away with silly things - until they don't.
There have been a number of times in my GA flying career where I have had to land elsewhere and spend the night because "trying to make it" would have been unwise. Pilots must be prepared for this for cross country flights....
Another old saying probably illustrates your point better Pilot DAR, "When you begin flying, you have two cups, one empty and the other full. The full cup is of luck, and the empty one is of experience. The trick is to fill the cup of experience before the cup of luck runs out."
Bader's classic line can be interpreted various ways, so here's another. We have to accept that we all begin as fools, requiring rules for guidance, and the only way to become wise is by experiencing the consequences of our own folly. In other words, if we religiously complied with rules, we'd never develop the judgement necessary to become wise, or above average skills. It would be great if we could gain this valuable experience under the guidance of wise pilots, but they're pretty rare nowadays, and probably were during Bader's time as well, so it's usually left up to the individual to define their own limits, rather than rigidly adhering to the limits imposed by the majority of idiots.