I do not ... reject the use of statistics in medicine, but…
![“I do not ... reject the use of statistics in medicine, but I condemn not trying to get beyond them and believing in statistics as the foundation of medical science. ... Statistics ... apply only to cases in which the cause of the facts observed is still [uncertain or] indeterminate. ... There will…” quote by Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/7d9/claude-bernard-7455_believe_i-do-not-reject-the-use-of-statistics-in_1882908.jpg)
“I do not ... reject the use of statistics in medicine, but I condemn not trying to get beyond them and believing in statistics as the foundation of medical science. ... Statistics ... apply only to cases in which the cause of the facts observed is still [uncertain or] indeterminate. ... There will always be some indeterminism ... in all the sciences, and more in medicine than in any other. But man's intellectual conquest consists in lessening and driving back indeterminism in proportion as he gains ground for determinism by the help of the experimental method..”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Statistics are useful but insufficient; medicine must also embrace experimental methods to reduce uncertainty.
In simple terms: Statistics alone can't capture medical truth.
Key Takeaway
Combine data with experimental insight.
Themes
medicine
statistics
uncertainty
experiment
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- clinical research
- diagnostic decision‑making
- policy development
Key Concepts
determinism
indeterminism
scientific method
Questions to Reflect On
- When should intuition outweigh data?
- How to balance statistics with experimentation?
A Different Perspective
Over‑reliance on numbers can miss nuanced causes.