--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The temptation to form premature theories…" description: "\"“The temptation to form premature theories upon insufficient data is the bane of our profession.”\" — Arthur Conan Doyle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/arthur-conan-doyle-273_quote_the-temptation-to-form-premature-theorie_1381991.jpg" --- # The temptation to form premature theories upon… ![“The temptation to form premature theories upon insufficient data is the bane of our profession.” quote by Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/arthur-conan-doyle-273_quote_the-temptation-to-form-premature-theorie_1381991.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/arthur-conan-doyle-273_quote_the-temptation-to-form-premature-theorie_1381991.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/arthur-conan-doyle-273_quote_the-temptation-to-form-premature-theorie_1381991.jpg) > ““The temptation to form premature theories upon insufficient data is the bane of our profession.”” [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Relying on insufficient evidence leads to faulty theories, damaging the field. **In simple terms:** Bad data leads to bad theories. Key Takeaway Base conclusions on solid data. Themes science methodology critical thinking Mood cautious analytical Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - research - policy making - media reporting Key Concepts epistemology bias rigor Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify data before forming a theory? - What safeguards prevent premature conclusions? A Different Perspective Data scarcity can mislead even experts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Data Bane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/data-bane-1938635/) [Insufficient Data](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insufficient-data-811630/) [Premature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/premature/) [Premature Theories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/premature-theories-1938633/) [Statistics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statistics/) [Theories Insufficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theories-insufficient-1938634/) ## Related quotes > [ \[Sherlock Holmes:\] The temptation to form premature theories upon insufficient data is the bane of our profession. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/sherlock-holmes-the-temptation-to-form-premature-theories-upon/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [I had ... come to an entirely erroneous conclusion, which shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from insufficient data.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/i-had-come-to-an-entirely-erroneous-conclusion-which-shows-my-dear/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [How dangerous it is to reason from insufficient data.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/how-dangerous-it-is-to-reason-from-insufficient-data/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [With insufficient data it is easy to go wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/with-insufficient-data-it-is-easy-to-go-wrong/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Life is made up of a series of judgments on insufficient data, and if we waited to run down all our doubts, it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/life-is-made-up-of-a-series-of-judgments-on-insufficient-data-and-if/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [“THERE IS AS YET INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR A MEANINGFUL ANSWER.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/there-is-as-yet-insufficient-data-for-a-meaningful-answer/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Still, it is an error to argue in front of your data. You can find yourself insensibly twisting them round to suit your theories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/still-it-is-an-error-to-argue-in-front-of-your-data-you-can-find/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [You know my methods. Apply them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/you-know-my-methods-apply-them/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“While nuclear fusion is great achievement, it is important that we look into the negative aspects of it. The development of nuclear energy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/while-nuclear-fusion-is-great-achievement-it-is-important-that-we/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [If efforts to do social work are couched in selfish motives, then they will die a premature death. Why would my efforts get politicised?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachin-tendulkar/if-efforts-to-do-social-work-are-couched-in-selfish-motives-then-they/) [Sachin Tendulkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachin-tendulkar/) > [There are many aspects of the universe that still cannot be explained satisfactorily by science; but ignorance implies only ignorance that may someday be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/there-are-many-aspects-of-the-universe-that-still-cannot-be-explained/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Part of the bargain of being alive is that one takes a chance at dying a premature or painful death, be it from violence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/part-of-the-bargain-of-being-alive-is-that-one-takes-a-chance-at/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [He was born early. But he was born within a safe range of premature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reiser/he-was-born-early-but-he-was-born-within-a-safe-range-of-premature/) [Paul Reiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reiser/) > [Premature ideas do not exist, one must bide one's time until the right moment comes along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-monnet/premature-ideas-do-not-exist-one-must-bide-one-s-time-until-the-right/) [Jean Monnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-monnet/) > [Science is not a system of certain, or -established, statements; nor is it a system which steadily advances towards a state of finality... And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/science-is-not-a-system-of-certain-or-established-statements-nor-is/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) ## More by Arthur Conan Doyle > [“shattered the bone and grazed the subclavian artery. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/shattered-the-bone-and-grazed-the-subclavian-artery-i/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/my-mind-rebels-at-stagnation-give-me-problems-give-me-work-give-me/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [...it was a huge creature, luminous, ghastly, and spectral. I have cross-examined these men, one of them a hard-headed countryman, one a farrier, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-was-a-huge-creature-luminous-ghastly-and-spectral-i-have-cross/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“A study in scarlet, eh? Why shouldn't we use a little art jargon. There's the scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/a-study-in-scarlet-eh-why-shouldn-t-we-use-a-little-art-jargon-there/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/mediocrity-knows-nothing-higher-than-itself-but-talent-instantly/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“Holy men? Holy cabbages! Holy bean-pods! What do they do but live and suck in sustenance and grow fat? If that be holiness, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/holy-men-holy-cabbages-holy-bean-pods-what-do-they-do-but-live-and/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“Wonderful!" I ejaculated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/wonderful-i-ejaculated/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Amberley excelled at chess - a mark, Watson, of a scheming mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/amberley-excelled-at-chess-a-mark-watson-of-a-scheming-mind/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Ex-Professor Moriarty of mathematical celebrity... is the Napoleon of crime, Watson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/ex-professor-moriarty-of-mathematical-celebrity-is-the-napoleon-of/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“When a doctor does go wrong, he is the first of criminals. He has the nerve and he has the knowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/when-a-doctor-does-go-wrong-he-is-the-first-of-criminals-he-has-the/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“How small we feel with our petty ambitions and strivings in the presence of the great elemental forces of Nature!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/how-small-we-feel-with-our-petty-ambitions-and-strivings-in-the/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [You wish to put me in the dark. I tell you that I will never be put in the dark. You wish to beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/you-wish-to-put-me-in-the-dark-i-tell-you-that-i-will-never-be-put-in/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“My mind," he said, "rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/my-mind-he-said-rebels-at-stagnation-give-me-problems-give-me-work/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“It is hard luck on a young fellow to have expensive tastes, great expectations, aristocratic connections but no actual money in his pocket, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-is-hard-luck-on-a-young-fellow-to-have-expensive-tastes-great/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“In the year 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and proceeded to Netley to go through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/in-the-year-1878-i-took-my-degree-of-doctor-of-medicine-of-the/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) [Explore all 740 Arthur Conan Doyle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) ## More Premature quotes > [Science is not a system of certain, or -established, statements; nor is it a system which steadily advances towards a state of finality... And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/science-is-not-a-system-of-certain-or-established-statements-nor-is/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [Premature ideas do not exist, one must bide one's time until the right moment comes along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-monnet/premature-ideas-do-not-exist-one-must-bide-one-s-time-until-the-right/) [Jean Monnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-monnet/) > [He was born early. But he was born within a safe range of premature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reiser/he-was-born-early-but-he-was-born-within-a-safe-range-of-premature/) [Paul Reiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reiser/) > [Part of the bargain of being alive is that one takes a chance at dying a premature or painful death, be it from violence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/part-of-the-bargain-of-being-alive-is-that-one-takes-a-chance-at/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [There are many aspects of the universe that still cannot be explained satisfactorily by science; but ignorance implies only ignorance that may someday be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/there-are-many-aspects-of-the-universe-that-still-cannot-be-explained/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [If efforts to do social work are couched in selfish motives, then they will die a premature death. Why would my efforts get politicised?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachin-tendulkar/if-efforts-to-do-social-work-are-couched-in-selfish-motives-then-they/) [Sachin Tendulkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachin-tendulkar/) > [“While nuclear fusion is great achievement, it is important that we look into the negative aspects of it. The development of nuclear energy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/while-nuclear-fusion-is-great-achievement-it-is-important-that-we/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“A premature death does not only rob one of the countless instances where one would have experienced pleasure, it also saves one from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-premature-death-does-not-only-rob-one-of-the-countless-instances/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [As a father and grandfather, I have witnessed firsthand the joy of new life entering the world. I know the pain and apprehension that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/as-a-father-and-grandfather-i-have-witnessed-firsthand-the-joy-of-new/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [Anybody who knows about having a premature baby, it's horrific. He was part of a twin, and I lost his sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherri-shepherd/anybody-who-knows-about-having-a-premature-baby-it-s-horrific-he-was/) [Sherri Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherri-shepherd/) > [“Unfortunately, you are far more likely to be harmed or die prematurely as a direct result of modern society than you are from any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/unfortunately-you-are-far-more-likely-to-be-harmed-or-die-prematurely/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Perhaps the seeds of false-refinement, immorality, and vanity, have ever been shed by the great. Weak, artificial beings, raised above the common wants and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/perhaps-the-seeds-of-false-refinement-immorality-and-vanity-have-ever/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [Men of science have made abundant mistakes of every kind; their knowledge has improved only because of their gradual abandonment of ancient errors, poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sarton/men-of-science-have-made-abundant-mistakes-of-every-kind-their/) [George Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sarton/) > [ \[Sherlock Holmes:\] The temptation to form premature theories upon insufficient data is the bane of our profession. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/sherlock-holmes-the-temptation-to-form-premature-theories-upon/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Premature wealth or position cannot be retained because it has not been earned; we get only what we give, and those who try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-haanel/premature-wealth-or-position-cannot-be-retained-because-it-has-not/) [Charles F. Haanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-haanel/) [Browse all 200 Premature quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/premature/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The temptation to form premature theories upon insufficient data is the bane of our profession.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arthur Conan Doyle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/the-temptation-to-form-premature-theories-upon-insufficient-data-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Premature" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/the-temptation-to-form-premature-theories-upon-insufficient-data-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/arthur-conan-doyle-273_quote_the-temptation-to-form-premature-theorie_1381991.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/arthur-conan-doyle-273_quote_the-temptation-to-form-premature-theorie_1381991.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/arthur-conan-doyle-273_quote_the-temptation-to-form-premature-theorie_1381991.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The temptation to form premature theories upon insufficient data is the bane of our profession.” — Arthur Conan Doyle", "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": "Arthur Conan Doyle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The temptation to form premature theories...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/the-temptation-to-form-premature-theories-upon-insufficient-data-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/the-temptation-to-form-premature-theories-upon-insufficient-data-is/#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 } } ] } ```