The conjuror or con man is a very good provider of…
“The conjuror or con man is a very good provider of information. He supplies lots of data, by inference or direct statement, but it's false data. Scientists aren't used to that scenario. An electron or a galaxy is not capricious, nor deceptive; but a human can be either or both.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote warns that human manipulators can present misleading information, unlike natural phenomena that follow consistent laws.
In simple terms: People can lie or mislead, unlike objects that follow predictable rules.
Key Takeaway
Question sources critically.
Themes
skepticism
information
truth
Mood
cautious
inquisitive
Type
advisory
philosophical
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- media consumption
- policy making
- education
- journalism
Key Concepts
critical thinking
epistemology
cognitive bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify the reliability of a source?
- What safeguards can protect scientific inquiry from misinformation?
A Different Perspective
Human bias and deception can still distort data despite rigorous methods.