People Believe Quote by Dan Chaon
““It’s called apophenia. It’s the tendency we humans have to find meaning in disconnected information. For example, some people believe in what’s called the ‘twenty-three enigma.’ That everything is related to the number twenty-three. It’s a surprisingly involved belief.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Dan Chaon on apophenia, 2021
Humans naturally link unrelated data, creating patterns like the “twenty‑three enigma,” which can mislead belief formation.
In simple terms: People see connections where none exist.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions before seeing meaning.
Themes
cognition
pattern recognition
bias
beliefs
Mood
curious
skeptical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- investigating conspiracy theories
- data analysis
- creative brainstorming
Key Concepts
apophenia
confirmation bias
statistics
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you mistaken coincidence for causation?
- How can you test a perceived pattern?
A Different Perspective
Seeing patterns can foster creativity, not just error.
![“JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS ARE BETTER WRITERS THAN THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BIBLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM RIGHT!" [Owen Meany] said crossly. "LOOK AT THOSE WEIRDO TV MIRACLE-WORKERS--THEY'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN MAGIC! BUT THE REAL MIRACLES AREN'T ANYTHING YOU CAN…” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70e/john-irving-337_atheists_just-because-a-bunch-of-atheists-are-bet_31804.jpg)
