--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Here is an entirely banal idea that I…" description: "\"Here is an entirely banal idea that I think has the potential to change the world: Take evidence seriously. Taking evidence seriously does not mean pri..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/862/abhijit-banerjee-6074_action_here-is-an-entirely-banal-idea-that-i-th_3161348.jpg" --- # Here is an entirely banal idea that I think has the… ![“Here is an entirely banal idea that I think has the potential to change the world: Take evidence seriously. Taking evidence seriously does not mean privileging numbers over all other forms of knowledge - theories, narratives, images. Nor does it mean the kind of radical skepticism that questions…” quote by Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/862/abhijit-banerjee-6074_action_here-is-an-entirely-banal-idea-that-i-th_3161348.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/862/abhijit-banerjee-6074_action_here-is-an-entirely-banal-idea-that-i-th_3161348.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/862/abhijit-banerjee-6074_action_here-is-an-entirely-banal-idea-that-i-th_3161348.jpg) > “Here is an entirely banal idea that I think has the potential to change the world: Take evidence seriously. Taking evidence seriously does not mean privileging numbers over all other forms of knowledge - theories, narratives, images. Nor does it mean the kind of radical skepticism that questions everything to the point where no action is possible.” [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Taking evidence seriously means integrating diverse forms of knowledge—data, narratives, and visuals—while avoiding extreme skepticism that paralyzes action. **In simple terms:** Value all evidence types without over‑reliance on numbers. Key Takeaway Blend quantitative and qualitative insights. Themes evidence decision‑making interdisciplinary critical thinking Mood thoughtful balanced Type analytical practical When to use this quote - policy design - research projects - business strategy - public health initiatives Key Concepts epistemology methodology bias mitigation Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance evidence with intuition? - When should action precede full data? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis on evidence can delay timely decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-the-world/) [Evidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence/) [Evidence Seriously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence-seriously-5715576/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Radical Skepticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radical-skepticism-3961012/) [Taking Evidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-evidence-1528146/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Evidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-evidence-1994787/) ## Related quotes > [Indeed taking all the evidence together, it is not too much to say that there is no single historic incident better or more variously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indeed-taking-all-the-evidence-together-it-is-not-too-much-to-say/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Radical skepticism is no more critical than is credulity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-a-evans/radical-skepticism-is-no-more-critical-than-is-credulity/) [Craig A. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-a-evans/) > [There's already a world of evidence that life on Earth is unique and intelligently crafted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/there-s-already-a-world-of-evidence-that-life-on-earth-is-unique-and/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [A mind unwilling to believe or even undesirous to be instructed, our weightiest evidence must ever fail to impress. It will insist on taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-c-s-schiller/a-mind-unwilling-to-believe-or-even-undesirous-to-be-instructed-our/) [F. C. S. Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-c-s-schiller/) > [“Her message was always the same: God loved the world, all evidence to the contrary, and we must not give up on God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/her-message-was-always-the-same-god-loved-the-world-all-evidence-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [It is possible that Modi sees his life as evidence that hard physical work can triumph over every disadvantage, but if so, most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/it-is-possible-that-modi-sees-his-life-as-evidence-that-hard-physical/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [Larry Kramer wisely realized so early on that to change the world, people have to know you. If they know you and see that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/larry-kramer-wisely-realized-so-early-on-that-to-change-the-world/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [I don't like lyrics to be overbearing. I like them to say something. But I'm not trying to change the world overnight. Something simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rodgers/i-don-t-like-lyrics-to-be-overbearing-i-like-them-to-say-something/) [Paul Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rodgers/) > [“if i am not in the world simply to adapt to it, but rather transform it, and if it is not possible to change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/if-i-am-not-in-the-world-simply-to-adapt-to-it-but-rather-transform/) [Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/) > [Curiously, the righteous Pharisees had little historical impact, save for a brief time in a remote corner of the Roman Empire. But Jesus' disciples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/curiously-the-righteous-pharisees-had-little-historical-impact-save/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Some women are meant to change the world, while others are meant to hold it together. And then there are those of us who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/some-women-are-meant-to-change-the-world-while-others-are-meant-to/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [If I wanted to change the world, the last thing I would do is write a play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-i-wanted-to-change-the-world-the-last-thing-i-would-do-is-write-a/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Paul Gray - he believed in my art, and I believed in his music. Together, we decided to change the world, and that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-crahan/paul-gray-he-believed-in-my-art-and-i-believed-in-his-music-together/) [Shawn Crahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-crahan/) > [If you wanted to put the world to rights, who should you begin with: yourself or others?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/if-you-wanted-to-put-the-world-to-rights-who-should-you-begin-with/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [If you learn something that changes you, you've made progress. If you learn something that changes others, you've helped change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lanie-lane/if-you-learn-something-that-changes-you-you-ve-made-progress-if-you/) [Lanie Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lanie-lane/) ## More by Abhijit Banerjee > [We will remember UPA 2, if at all, it seems, as that period when things went mysteriously wrong - for the bribe-taking, buck-passing, foot-dragging,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/we-will-remember-upa-2-if-at-all-it-seems-as-that-period-when-things/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [The problem of getting from home to the metro, BRT or bus stop makes many people take their cars to work. Why not start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/the-problem-of-getting-from-home-to-the-metro-brt-or-bus-stop-makes/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [In the development business doing something for both women and the environment is the equivalent of holding a royal flush in poker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/in-the-development-business-doing-something-for-both-women-and-the/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [One big mistake that we made in Delhi is that we made it a low-rise city which means that rich people have nice green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/one-big-mistake-that-we-made-in-delhi-is-that-we-made-it-a-low-rise/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [Celebrate the excitement of trying build something new and wonderful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/celebrate-the-excitement-of-trying-build-something-new-and-wonderful/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [One advantage of not being in power is that we can dream of reshaping the world exactly as we please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/one-advantage-of-not-being-in-power-is-that-we-can-dream-of-reshaping/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [I have always found it difficult to wrap my head around population policies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/i-have-always-found-it-difficult-to-wrap-my-head-around-population/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [If democracy as we know it has to survive the elites have to regain their credibility. And they have to start by admitting that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/if-democracy-as-we-know-it-has-to-survive-the-elites-have-to-regain/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [Even Milton Friedman - doyen of radical free market thought - was willing to consider some government intervention into primary education on the grounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/even-milton-friedman-doyen-of-radical-free-market-thought-was-willing/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [I was very lucky to be born into a very academic family. I was well-read, well-trained in mathematics. I had lots of advantages to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/i-was-very-lucky-to-be-born-into-a-very-academic-family-i-was-well/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [It is possible that Modi sees his life as evidence that hard physical work can triumph over every disadvantage, but if so, most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/it-is-possible-that-modi-sees-his-life-as-evidence-that-hard-physical/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [Insurance is important for protecting the health of people and Ujjwala is quite useful to low-income women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/insurance-is-important-for-protecting-the-health-of-people-and/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [Mamata Banerjee and Narendra Modi, the ultimate didi and dada of Indian politics, should really commiserate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/mamata-banerjee-and-narendra-modi-the-ultimate-didi-and-dada-of/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [Celebrate creativity and confidence in the face of adversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/celebrate-creativity-and-confidence-in-the-face-of-adversity/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [Anyone who has a child knows the importance of not over-playing your hand. He was up all night playing some game on his smartphone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/anyone-who-has-a-child-knows-the-importance-of-not-over-playing-your/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) [Explore all 100 Abhijit Banerjee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Here is an entirely banal idea that I think has the potential to change the world: Take evidence seriously. Taking evidence seriously does not mean privileging numbers over all other forms of knowledge - theories, narratives, images. Nor does it mean the kind of radical skepticism that questions everything to the point where no action is possible.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abhijit Banerjee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/here-is-an-entirely-banal-idea-that-i-think-has-the-potential-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/here-is-an-entirely-banal-idea-that-i-think-has-the-potential-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/862/abhijit-banerjee-6074_action_here-is-an-entirely-banal-idea-that-i-th_3161348.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/862/abhijit-banerjee-6074_action_here-is-an-entirely-banal-idea-that-i-th_3161348.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/862/abhijit-banerjee-6074_action_here-is-an-entirely-banal-idea-that-i-th_3161348.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Here is an entirely banal idea that I think has the potential to change the world: Take evidence seriously…” — Abhijit Banerjee", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Abhijit Banerjee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Here is an entirely banal idea...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/here-is-an-entirely-banal-idea-that-i-think-has-the-potential-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/here-is-an-entirely-banal-idea-that-i-think-has-the-potential-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```