--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there is a lesson in our story it is…" description: "\"If there is a lesson in our story it is that the manipulation, according to strictly self-consistent rules, of a set of symbols representing one single..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b34/arthur-koestler-1903_aspect_if-there-is-a-lesson-in-our-story-it-is_2703738.jpg" --- # If there is a lesson in our story it is that the… ![“If there is a lesson in our story it is that the manipulation, according to strictly self-consistent rules, of a set of symbols representing one single aspect of the phenomena may produce correct, verifiable predictions, and yet completely ignore all other aspects whose ensemble constitutes reality.” quote by Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b34/arthur-koestler-1903_aspect_if-there-is-a-lesson-in-our-story-it-is_2703738.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b34/arthur-koestler-1903_aspect_if-there-is-a-lesson-in-our-story-it-is_2703738.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b34/arthur-koestler-1903_aspect_if-there-is-a-lesson-in-our-story-it-is_2703738.jpg) > “If there is a lesson in our story it is that the manipulation, according to strictly self-consistent rules, of a set of symbols representing one single aspect of the phenomena may produce correct, verifiable predictions, and yet completely ignore all other aspects whose ensemble constitutes reality.” [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Symbolic models can predict accurately while ignoring other reality aspects, highlighting limits of reductionism. **In simple terms:** Models can be accurate but incomplete. Key Takeaway Use multiple perspectives to capture full reality. Themes science philosophy methodology Mood analytical critical Type philosophical scientific When to use this quote - research - policy making - education Key Concepts reductionism modeling epistemology Questions to Reflect On - What aspects does a single model miss? - How to integrate diverse models? A Different Perspective May undervalue interdisciplinary approaches. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aspect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspect/) [Consistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistent/) [Ensemble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ensemble/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Manipulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manipulation/) [Manipulation According](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manipulation-according-2754115/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Predictions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predictions/) [Predictions Completely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predictions-completely-2754116/) [Produce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/produce/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Representing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representing/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story Manipulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-manipulation-2754117/) [Symbols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbols/) [Verifiable Predictions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verifiable-predictions-2754118/) ## Related quotes > [Adam Berenson knows how to compose, organize an ensemble, do musical research, play solo and trio piano, write for musical journals, and enlist others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bley/adam-berenson-knows-how-to-compose-organize-an-ensemble-do-musical/) [Paul Bley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bley/) > ['Tango' is very much an ensemble piece and I was devastated when I read the script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lancashire/tango-is-very-much-an-ensemble-piece-and-i-was-devastated-when-i-read/) [Sarah Lancashire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lancashire/) > [Writing for chamber ensemble is the thing that excites me the most. 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Richard Hackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-richard-hackman/) > [All conventional wisdom has an element of truth to it, but good design requires more than an element of truth - it requires an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/all-conventional-wisdom-has-an-element-of-truth-to-it-but-good-design/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [My mother did like to make clothes, and in I think the worst picture I've ever seen of myself - I must have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/my-mother-did-like-to-make-clothes-and-in-i-think-the-worst-picture-i/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [It's really nice to pass the ball when you're in an ensemble cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-rohm/it-s-really-nice-to-pass-the-ball-when-you-re-in-an-ensemble-cast/) [Elisabeth Rohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-rohm/) > [In spite of my great admiration for individual splendid talents I do not accept the star system. Collective creative effort is the root of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constantin-stanislavski/in-spite-of-my-great-admiration-for-individual-splendid-talents-i-do/) [Constantin Stanislavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constantin-stanislavski/) > [Maybe it's just my improv and sketch background, but I'm a lot more comfortable in a group. I like sharing focus and populating an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mantzoukas/maybe-it-s-just-my-improv-and-sketch-background-but-i-m-a-lot-more/) [Jason Mantzoukas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mantzoukas/) > [ We're really fleshing out the whole world of the show \[Difficult People\]. It's more of an ensemble now, whereas last season we were very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/we-re-really-fleshing-out-the-whole-world-of-the-show-difficult/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [I've always been very interested in ensemble work. 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The catastrophe consisted in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/as-modern-physics-started-with-the-newtonian-revolution-so-modern/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [If one looks with a cold eye at the mess man has made of history, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/if-one-looks-with-a-cold-eye-at-the-mess-man-has-made-of-history-it/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The ultimate truth is penultimately always a falsehood. He who will be proved right in the end appears to be wrong and harmful before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-ultimate-truth-is-penultimately-always-a-falsehood-he-who-will-be/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The real achievement in discoveries... is seeing an analogy where no one saw one before... 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