Hypotheses Quote by Augustus De Morgan
“Wrong hypotheses, rightly worked from, have produced more useful results than unguided observations.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Principles of Mathematics, 1840
He argues that well‑chosen false hypotheses can lead to valuable discoveries more than random observation.
In simple terms: Wrong ideas, when tested, can yield useful results.
Key Takeaway
Test hypotheses, even if they seem wrong.
Themes
science
methodology
error
discovery
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
scientific
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research labs
- academic studies
- product development
- innovation cycles
Key Concepts
hypothesis testing
serendipity
theory development
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide which incorrect ideas to explore?
- When is it better to observe without a hypothesis?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on false leads can waste resources.
![“Imagine a person with a gift of ridicule [He might say] First that a negative quantity has no logarithm; secondly that a negative quantity has no square root; thirdly that the first non-existent is to the second as the circumference of a circle is to the diameter.” quote by Augustus De Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/17f/augustus-de-morgan-18916_circles_imagine-a-person-with-a-gift-of-ridicule_136734.jpg)
![“As to writing another book on geometry [to replace Euclid] the middle ages would have as soon thought of composing another New Testament.” quote by Augustus De Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ed4/augustus-de-morgan-18916_age_as-to-writing-another-book-on-geometry-t_584350.jpg)
