Arithmetic Quote by Arthur Koestler
“Men cannot be treated as units in operations of political arithmetic because they behave like the symbols for zero and the infinite , which dislocate all mathematical operations.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Political arithmetic
Men cannot be treated as simple units in political calculations because they behave unpredictably like zero or infinity, breaking mathematical models.
In simple terms: Human behavior defies simple math.
Key Takeaway
Account for complexity in policy.
Themes
politics
complexity
human nature
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
academic
When to use this quote
- policy design
- economic modeling
- social research
Key Concepts
systems theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we model unpredictable behavior?
- What alternatives to arithmetic exist?
A Different Perspective
Simplification aids decision‑making.
