Character Quote by Adolphe Quetelet
“It would appear... that moral phenomena, when observed on a great scale, are found to resemble physical phenomena; and we thus arrive, in inquiries of this kind, at the fundamental principle, that the greater the number of individuals observed, the more do individual peculiarities, whether physical or moral, become effaced, and leave in a prominent point of view the general facts, by virtue of which society exists and is preserved.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Sur les lois de la nature humaine, 1835
When many individuals are examined together, unique traits fade and overarching patterns dominate, shaping society’s structure and stability.
In simple terms: Large groups hide individual quirks, revealing societal trends.
Key Takeaway
Focus on collective data for societal insight.
Themes
statistics
society
patterns
collectivism
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
observational
theoretical
When to use this quote
- public policy
- market analysis
- epidemiology
- urban planning
Key Concepts
Sociology
law of large numbers
emergent behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we protect minorities when focusing on averages?
- What risks arise from ignoring outliers?
A Different Perspective
Individual variation still matters for minority experiences.
