As soon as the circumstances of an experiment are well…
“As soon as the circumstances of an experiment are well known, we stop gathering statistics. ... The effect will occur always without exception, because the cause of the phenomena is accurately defined. Only when a phenomenon includes conditions as yet undefined,Only when a phenomenon includes conditions as yet undefined, can we compile statistics. ... we must learn therefore that we compile statistics only when we cannot possibly help it; for in my opinion, statistics can never yield scientific truth.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
When all variables are controlled, data collection becomes unnecessary; statistics serve only when unknown factors exist, and they cannot alone reveal truth.
In simple terms: Statistics are useful only for unknowns, not for fully understood experiments.
Key Takeaway
Use statistics only when uncertainty remains.
Themes
science
methodology
uncertainty
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
epistemic
critical
When to use this quote
- clinical trials
- laboratory research
- policy analysis
- market research
- environmental monitoring
Key Concepts
experimental design
philosophy of science
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- When should you rely on statistics versus direct measurement?
- What limits do statistics have in fully controlled experiments?
A Different Perspective
Statistics cannot replace direct observation when conditions are fully known.