Nothing says fairness like being the one who writes the rules.

Rules for Thee, Not for Me gets the RELICWORK™ treatment, turning an old accusation of hypocrisy into something that feels carved out of the machinery of power itself. A massive, battered millstone sits between the words, cracked, chipped, and partially destroyed, yet still heavy enough to keep grinding.

The millstone is the point. Rules, institutions, and consequences can become crushing weights for the people underneath them while those with enough status conveniently stand somewhere outside the mechanism. The standard remains absolute right up until it applies to the person enforcing it.

Rendered in distressed bone white with stark negative space, the design keeps the message blunt and the symbolism ancient. No politician, king, or authority figure is needed. The double standard is older than all of them.

Part of Hard Mode IRL’s RELICWORK™ visual language, this piece turns hypocrisy into a physical artifact: weathered, cracked, and apparently still in service.

Details

• Original Hard Mode IRL RELICWORK™ design
• “Rules for Thee, Not for Me” gothic typography
• Broken millstone representing unequal burdens and selective consequences
• Distressed bone-white monochrome artwork
• Cracks, missing sections, and deterioration built through negative space
• Anti-hypocrisy and anti-double-standard symbolism
• Bold, highly readable composition for dark garments
• Premium unisex fit designed for comfortable everyday wear

Funny how the rules get lighter depending on who has to carry them.