Ifs Quote by Anthony Boucher
“Eliminate the impossible. Then if nothing remains, some part of the 'impossible' was possible.”
About This Quote
Source Story: Sherlock Holmes, “The Sign of Four”, 1890
Eliminate impossible explanations; if none remain, the remaining unlikely one must be true.
In simple terms: Rule out the impossible; accept the unlikely.
Key Takeaway
Use logical elimination.
Themes
logic
deduction
investigation
Mood
analytical
curious
Type
philosophical
practical
When to use this quote
- crime solving
- scientific research
- medical diagnosis
Key Concepts
critical thinking
problem solving
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions limit your reasoning?
- When is an unlikely solution plausible?
A Different Perspective
The “impossible” may be misidentified.
![“Eliminate the impossible, and what remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth,”[40]” quote by Jonathan P. Brazee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/57e/jonathan-p-brazee-250079_impossible_eliminate-the-impossible-and-what-remain_104444.jpg)
