--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In order to predict effectively, we need…" description: "\"In order to predict effectively, we need to use science. And the reason that we need to use science is because then we can reproduce what we're doing; ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13c/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita-31658_because_in-order-to-predict-effectively-we-need_2635632.jpg" --- # In order to predict effectively, we need to use science… ![“In order to predict effectively, we need to use science. And the reason that we need to use science is because then we can reproduce what we're doing; it's not just wisdom or guesswork. And if we can predict, then we can engineer the future.” quote by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13c/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita-31658_because_in-order-to-predict-effectively-we-need_2635632.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13c/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita-31658_because_in-order-to-predict-effectively-we-need_2635632.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13c/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita-31658_because_in-order-to-predict-effectively-we-need_2635632.jpg) > “In order to predict effectively, we need to use science. And the reason that we need to use science is because then we can reproduce what we're doing; it's not just wisdom or guesswork. And if we can predict, then we can engineer the future.” [Bruce Bueno de Mesquita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scientific methods enable reproducible predictions, turning vague wisdom into engineered futures. **In simple terms:** Science makes predictions reliable. Key Takeaway Apply scientific rigor to forecasting. Themes prediction science engineering future policy political science Mood analytical pragmatic Type academic strategic When to use this quote - business forecasting - climate modeling - public policy - investment decisions Key Concepts methodology empiricism strategic planning Questions to Reflect On - What predictions in your field lack scientific backing? - How can you improve reproducibility? A Different Perspective Science cannot capture all human unpredictability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Well, logos is science or reason, something that helps us to function practically and effectively in the world, and it must therefore be closely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/well-logos-is-science-or-reason-something-that-helps-us-to-function/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [In science, reason is the guide; in poetry, taste. The object of the one is truth, which is uniform and indivisible; the object of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/in-science-reason-is-the-guide-in-poetry-taste-the-object-of-the-one/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [“In the hallowed tradition of squishy doughball liberals, I believe that science, reason, kindness, and understanding—maybe a little food—can set the world right. B”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-meloy/in-the-hallowed-tradition-of-squishy-doughball-liberals-i-believe/) [Ellen Meloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-meloy/) > [“Every other aspect of life that was once attributed to divine intent is now elegantly and completely explained in the context of evolutionary science.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nye/every-other-aspect-of-life-that-was-once-attributed-to-divine-intent/) [Bill Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nye/) > [“Not one people has ever yet organised itself according to the principles of science and reason. Never has there been a single example of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/not-one-people-has-ever-yet-organised-itself-according-to-the/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [We take art, and I love all that. But I also like science for some reason. I just like finding out why things happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-fanning/we-take-art-and-i-love-all-that-but-i-also-like-science-for-some/) [Elle Fanning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-fanning/) > [Science and reason liberate us from the shackles of superstition by offering us a framework for understanding our shared humanity. Ultimately, we all have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-saad/science-and-reason-liberate-us-from-the-shackles-of-superstition-by/) [Gad Saad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-saad/) > [With science and reason throughout history, what people believed turned out to be false. So I like to keep an open mind to all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/with-science-and-reason-throughout-history-what-people-believed/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [Every day we go over data and use science and data to drive policy and decision-making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-birx/every-day-we-go-over-data-and-use-science-and-data-to-drive-policy/) [Deborah Birx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-birx/) > [You don't use science to show you're right, you use science to become right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-munroe/you-don-t-use-science-to-show-you-re-right-you-use-science-to-become/) [Randall Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-munroe/) > [I reckon that for all the use it has been to science about four-fifths of my time has been wasted, and I believe this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-medawar/i-reckon-that-for-all-the-use-it-has-been-to-science-about-four/) [Peter Medawar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-medawar/) > [Anybody can use science and technology without fundamentally altering his own frame of mind which governs how they are used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/anybody-can-use-science-and-technology-without-fundamentally-altering/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [“Science, not religion, became the driving force for human development and world discovery and exploitation. It is the unwise use of science, allied to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-sanderson/science-not-religion-became-the-driving-force-for-human-development/) Alan Sanderson > [“We repeat like a religious mantra the unquestioned benefits and power of science, information and economics, without inspecting the structures and methodology on which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/we-repeat-like-a-religious-mantra-the-unquestioned-benefits-and-power/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Part of what I do is a craft, but part of what I do is a science. And I guess the craft comes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moog/part-of-what-i-do-is-a-craft-but-part-of-what-i-do-is-a-science-and-i/) [Robert Moog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moog/) ## More by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita > [I'm not an Iran expert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/i-m-not-an-iran-expert/) [Bruce Bueno de Mesquita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/) > [We probably could more successfully resolve the North Korean nuclear threat through game-theoretic reasoning. We could successfully resolve what American leaders seem to perceive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/we-probably-could-more-successfully-resolve-the-north-korean-nuclear/) [Bruce Bueno de Mesquita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/) > [We really can't tell the difference between people who might seek power for some greater good and people who seek power just to aggrandize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/we-really-can-t-tell-the-difference-between-people-who-might-seek/) [Bruce Bueno de Mesquita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/) > [I engage in the use of game theory. Game theory is a branch of mathematics, and that means, sorry, that even in the study…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/i-engage-in-the-use-of-game-theory-game-theory-is-a-branch-of/) [Bruce Bueno de Mesquita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/) > [If you're running a dictatorship, you don't really have to worry about the welfare or the property rights of the ordinary citizen. Only the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/if-you-re-running-a-dictatorship-you-don-t-really-have-to-worry-about/) [Bruce Bueno de Mesquita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/) > [I think almost all strategic problems could at least be improved upon if people would do more careful game-theoretic analysis. The reason game theory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/i-think-almost-all-strategic-problems-could-at-least-be-improved-upon/) [Bruce Bueno de Mesquita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/) > [The fact that we see some people doing what appears to be good civic-minded deeds may be because that is their true intention, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/the-fact-that-we-see-some-people-doing-what-appears-to-be-good-civic/) [Bruce Bueno de Mesquita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/) > [“Democracies are not lucky. They do not attract civic-minded leaders by chance. Rather, they attract survival-oriented leaders who understand that, given their dependence on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/democracies-are-not-lucky-they-do-not-attract-civic-minded-leaders-by/) [Bruce Bueno De Mesquita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/) > [There is an interesting interplay between power corrupting and corruption empowering. The causality does not go one way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/there-is-an-interesting-interplay-between-power-corrupting-and/) [Bruce Bueno de Mesquita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/) > [Dictators, unlike Democrats, depend on a small coterie to sustain their power. These backers, generally drawn from the military, the senior civil service, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/dictators-unlike-democrats-depend-on-a-small-coterie-to-sustain-their/) [Bruce Bueno de Mesquita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/) > [Pretty much, you point to a problem and good reasoning about why people are doing what they are doing and what constraints they face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/pretty-much-you-point-to-a-problem-and-good-reasoning-about-why/) [Bruce Bueno de Mesquita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/) > [There are lots of people shaping decisions, and so if we want to predict correctly, we have to pay attention to everybody who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/there-are-lots-of-people-shaping-decisions-and-so-if-we-want-to/) [Bruce Bueno de Mesquita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/) > [To understand why dictators fall, it helps to recognise factors that produce a perfect anti-dictatorial storm. Barring missteps such as those that led to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/to-understand-why-dictators-fall-it-helps-to-recognise-factors-that/) [Bruce Bueno de Mesquita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/) > [I'm not engaged in predicting random number generators. I actually get phone calls from people who want to know what lottery numbers are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/i-m-not-engaged-in-predicting-random-number-generators-i-actually-get/) [Bruce Bueno de Mesquita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/) [Explore all 15 Bruce Bueno de Mesquita quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bueno-de-mesquita/) ## More Because quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [There were songs that we cut out after we chose the name, because 'Praise Break' turned out to be an underlying concept that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-caesar/there-were-songs-that-we-cut-out-after-we-chose-the-name-because/) [Daniel Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-caesar/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I was also known as Frodo because I was an early adopter of 'The Lord of the Rings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perrotta/i-was-also-known-as-frodo-because-i-was-an-early-adopter-of-the-lord/) [Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [Sometimes, when full and in fear that I will continue to eat unwanted food just because it's staring at me, I will place my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-nichols/sometimes-when-full-and-in-fear-that-i-will-continue-to-eat-unwanted/) [Rachel Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-nichols/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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I accepted it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suresh-gopi/i-was-contacted-by-rajyavardhan-singh-rathore-mp-through-the-pune/) [Suresh Gopi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suresh-gopi/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) Browse all 15,485 Because quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In order to predict effectively, we need to use science. 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