--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We’ve seen time and again that…" description: "\"“We’ve seen time and again that mathematical models can sift through data to locate people who are likely to face great challenges, whether from crime,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddf/cathy-o-neil-11478_education_we-ve-seen-time-and-again-that-mathemati_968488.jpg" --- # We’ve seen time and again that mathematical models can… ![“We’ve seen time and again that mathematical models can sift through data to locate people who are likely to face great challenges, whether from crime, poverty, or educations. It’s up to society whether to use that intelligence to reject and punish them—or to reach out to them with the resources…” quote by Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddf/cathy-o-neil-11478_education_we-ve-seen-time-and-again-that-mathemati_968488.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddf/cathy-o-neil-11478_education_we-ve-seen-time-and-again-that-mathemati_968488.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddf/cathy-o-neil-11478_education_we-ve-seen-time-and-again-that-mathemati_968488.jpg) > ““We’ve seen time and again that mathematical models can sift through data to locate people who are likely to face great challenges, whether from crime, poverty, or educations. It’s up to society whether to use that intelligence to reject and punish them—or to reach out to them with the resources they need. We can use the scale and efficiency that make WMDs so pernicious in order to help people. It all depends on the objective we choose.”” [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Data-driven models can predict personal risk, but society decides whether to punish or help those identified. **In simple terms:** Models predict risk; society chooses response. Key Takeaway Use data to allocate support, not punishment. Themes ethics technology social justice Mood thoughtful concerned Type ethical policy When to use this quote - public policy - social services - criminal justice reform - education programs Key Concepts algorithmic bias predictive analytics resource allocation Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure predictive tools serve vulnerable groups? - What safeguards prevent misuse of data? A Different Perspective Risk predictions can reinforce existing inequalities if not carefully managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Help people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-people/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Make Wmds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-wmds-1843562/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Use Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-intelligence-274698/) [Wmds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wmds-1843560/) [Wmds Pernicious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wmds-pernicious-1843561/) ## Related quotes > [“In short, WMDs are targeting us all. And they’ll continue to multiply, sowing injustice, until we take steps to stop them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/in-short-wmds-are-targeting-us-all-and-they-ll-continue-to-multiply/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [“We worried for decades about WMDs – Weapons of Mass Destruction. Now it is time to worry about a new kind of WMDs –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mariotti/we-worried-for-decades-about-wmds-weapons-of-mass-destruction-now-it/) [John Mariotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mariotti/) > [In 2005, the Iraq war was entering its third year and no one believed that we were going to find WMDs any more. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/in-2005-the-iraq-war-was-entering-its-third-year-and-no-one-believed/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [For the execution of the voyage to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics or maps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/for-the-execution-of-the-voyage-to-the-indies-i-did-not-make-use-of/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [“The Enemy makes better use of our intelligence than of our errors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/the-enemy-makes-better-use-of-our-intelligence-than-of-our-errors/) [Gabriel García Márquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [Women never use their intelligence, except when they need to prop up their intuition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-deval/women-never-use-their-intelligence-except-when-they-need-to-prop-up/) [Jacques Deval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-deval/) > [The proper use of our intelligence and knowledge is to effect changes from within to develop a good heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-proper-use-of-our-intelligence-and-knowledge-is-to-effect-changes/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [People with intelligence must use their intelligence, people with eyes must use their eyes, people with the capacity to love have the impulse to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/people-with-intelligence-must-use-their-intelligence-people-with-eyes/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [Dare to know! Have the courage to use your own intelligence!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/dare-to-know-have-the-courage-to-use-your-own-intelligence/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [You can't just shoot your way out of every scenario in 'Resident Evil' games. You have to use your intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-w-s-anderson/you-can-t-just-shoot-your-way-out-of-every-scenario-in-resident-evil/) [Paul W. S. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-w-s-anderson/) > [Intelligence appears to be the thing that enables a man to get along without education. Education enables a man to get along without the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-edward-wiggam/intelligence-appears-to-be-the-thing-that-enables-a-man-to-get-along/) [Albert Edward Wiggam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-edward-wiggam/) > [“Intelligence must be used for the benefit, and not to the detriment, of society. Those who use intelligence for their own personal gain or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/intelligence-must-be-used-for-the-benefit-and-not-to-the-detriment-of/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I thought I was writing for a fairly hip, intelligent crowd; I just thought there were more of them out there. But they're not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-hannah/i-thought-i-was-writing-for-a-fairly-hip-intelligent-crowd-i-just/) [Barry Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-hannah/) > [We use our intelligence, our creative intelligence, because we create with intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trudell/we-use-our-intelligence-our-creative-intelligence-because-we-create/) [John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/) > [Understanding the history of matter and searching for its most interesting forms, such as galaxies, stars, planets and life, seems a suitable use for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kirshner/understanding-the-history-of-matter-and-searching-for-its-most/) [Robert Kirshner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kirshner/) ## More by Cathy O'Neil > [ With recidivism algorithms, for example, I worry about racist outcomes. With personality tests \[for hiring\], I worry about filtering out people with mental health… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/with-recidivism-algorithms-for-example-i-worry-about-racist-outcomes/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [“They draw statistical correlations between a person’s zip code or language patterns and her potential to pay back a loan or handle a job.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/they-draw-statistical-correlations-between-a-person-s-zip-code-or/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [I don't think anybody's ever notified that they were sentenced to an extra two years because their recidivism score had been high, or notified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/i-don-t-think-anybody-s-ever-notified-that-they-were-sentenced-to-an/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [The national conversation around white entitlement, around institutionalized racism, the Black Lives Matter movement, I think, came about in large part because of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/the-national-conversation-around-white-entitlement-around/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [“model’s blind spots reflect the judgments and priorities of its creators. While the choices in Google Maps and avionics software appear cut and dried,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/model-s-blind-spots-reflect-the-judgments-and-priorities-of-its/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [I would argue that one of the major problems with our blind trust in algorithms is that we can propagate discriminatory patterns without acknowledging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/i-would-argue-that-one-of-the-major-problems-with-our-blind-trust-in/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [We've learned our lesson with finance because they made a huge goddamn explosion that almost shut down the world. But the thing I realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/we-ve-learned-our-lesson-with-finance-because-they-made-a-huge/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [“Employers, for example, are increasingly using credit scores to evaluate potential hires. Those who pay their bills promptly, the thinking goes, are more likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/employers-for-example-are-increasingly-using-credit-scores-to/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [Google is so big you have no idea what a given person does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/google-is-so-big-you-have-no-idea-what-a-given-person-does/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [It's a standard thing you hear from startup people - that their product is somehow improving the world. And if you follow the reasoning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/it-s-a-standard-thing-you-hear-from-startup-people-that-their-product/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [The NSA buys data from private companies, so the private companies are the source of all this stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/the-nsa-buys-data-from-private-companies-so-the-private-companies-are/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [“The algorithms would make sure that those deemed losers would remain that way. A lucky minority would gain ever more control over the data…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/the-algorithms-would-make-sure-that-those-deemed-losers-would-remain/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [“As we’ve seen, they (the companies) routinely reject applicants on the basis of credit scores and personality tests. Health scores represent a natural—and frightening—next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/as-we-ve-seen-they-the-companies-routinely-reject-applicants-on-the/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [We don't let a car company just throw out a car and start driving it around without checking that the wheels are fastened on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/we-don-t-let-a-car-company-just-throw-out-a-car-and-start-driving-it/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [The public trusts big data way too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/the-public-trusts-big-data-way-too-much/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) [Explore all 59 Cathy O'Neil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) ## More Education quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [“In school you are taught to obey and not to think straight for your own good. 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But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“If one has not a head of steel it will burst; if he has not within it a brain of liquid quicksilver, he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioannes-amos-commenius/if-one-has-not-a-head-of-steel-it-will-burst-if-he-has-not-within-it/) [Ioannes Amos Commenius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioannes-amos-commenius/) > [“let us not teach / what we have learned badly / and not profited by”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-hilda-doolittle/let-us-not-teach-what-we-have-learned-badly-and-not-profited-by/) [H.D. (Hilda Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-d-hilda-doolittle/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/according-to-plato-we-don-t-learn-anything-our-soul-has-lived-so-many/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I only began to enjoy studying after I got through the educational system and became a so-called member of society. 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