It’s an odd time to be arguing for fewer rules and more authority. Nobody wants government by whim of a deranged dictator or to work for a tyrannical boss. Rules beckon as a safeguard, a way of holding the powerful to account. The problem is that rules themselves do not hold anyone to account. Some of the most corrupt places in the world produce an abundance of law. Horribly abusive governments can emerge under constitutional designs intended to ensure democracy and the rule of law. In the end, holding the powerful to account requires something more robust than a rule-book. It also turns out that rule-following is a pretty thin basis for competent, honest leadership in government or business. We generally want more from our leaders than rule-following: we want them to be effective, to deliver public services, to innovate, to make good decisions even when confronted with difficult trade-offs and deep uncertainty; indeed, especially when confronted with trade-offs and uncertainty.