Sells' Law

Without knowing it, President Bush has learned that Sells’ Law should be given serious consideration before making policy decisions. Sells’ Law is more universally valid than Murphy’s Law or Parkinson’s Law.

In the summer of 1959 I took an introductory course in psychology at Texas Christian University, taught by Dr. Saul B. Sells. I’m sure I learned much more than I am aware of, but I am conscious of remembering only two things from the course: Miss Texas and Sell’s Law.

Miss Texas sat in the desk to my right. When she was there. It seems the title carries with it responsibilities that override academia. She missed class a lot. Once when she showed up, she was surprised to find we were having a test. I noticed that she was looking at my answers, so, using my right forearm, I covered my paper.

She was the queen of Texas--rank has its privileges--so she asked me to move my arm so she could see the answers. I didn’t, but I was amazed at her audacity. I judge that there is no ethical component in beauty contests.

Much more importantly, I remember Sell’s Law. For almost fifty years my wife and have observed it at work, and have seen it fail only a handful of times. One day in class, Dr. Sells gave us his law to put in our toolbox along with Murphy’s and Parkinson’s.

Sells’ Law: “It is easier to get into things than to get out of them.”

Observe and judge for yourself. It rarely fails. The President–the Commander-in-Chief–and all his armed forces, his staff, and our national legislators are finding that Professor Sells was not passing out ideas that were merely academic.