Arithmetic Quote by Adam Smith
“I have no faith in political arithmetic.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Wealth of Nations, 1776
Political calculations are unreliable and should not be trusted.
In simple terms: Political math is untrustworthy.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions.
Themes
politics
economics
skepticism
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Legislative forecasting
- campaign strategy
- public opinion polling
Key Concepts
Statistical inference
policy analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- What factors make political outcomes unpredictable?
- How can we improve decision‑making without relying on arithmetic?
A Different Perspective
Complex systems may defy simple arithmetic.
