Explanation Quote by Dan Brown
“When multiple explanations exist, the simplest is usually correct.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown, 2009
Among competing theories, the one that requires the fewest assumptions is often the most reliable.
In simple terms: Simplest explanation is likely correct.
Key Takeaway
Choose the simplest viable explanation.
Themes
logic
critical thinking
parsimony
analysis
decision making
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- legal investigation
- every troubleshooting
Key Concepts
Occam's razor
theory selection
problem solving
Questions to Reflect On
- When does a simple explanation fail?
- How to test simplicity against evidence?
A Different Perspective
Complex problems may need nuanced answers.
![“They [scientists of centuries past] call on God only from the lonely and precarious edge of incomprehension. Where they feel certain about their explanations, however, God gets hardly a mention.” quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0b0/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_century_they-scientists-of-centuries-past-call-o_12921.jpg)
![“[Barack Obama] will spend long periods of time explaining to people why he won't use it. At the end of the explanation, nobody knows why he still won't use it because the explanation is no good. And I mean, honestly we have a president that in my opinion really doesn't know what he's doing.” quote by Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eb3/donald-trump-18_barack_barack-obama-will-spend-long-periods-of_29283.jpg)
