Average person Quote by David McRaney
““J. E. Littlewood, a mathematician at Cambridge University, wrote about the law of truly large numbers in his 1986 book, "Littlewood's Miscellany." He said the average person is alert for about eight hours every day, and something happens to the average person about once a second. At this rate, you will experience 1 million events every thirty-five days. This means when you say the chances of something happening are one in a million, it also means about once a month. The monthly miracle is called Littlewood's Law.””
About This Quote
Source Book: You Are Not So Smart, 2011
Littlewood’s Law states that rare events happen about once a month for an average person, making miracles statistically common.
In simple terms: Rare events occur regularly, so miracles aren’t truly rare.
Key Takeaway
Expect everyday wonders and stay open to them.
Themes
probability
statistics
perception
Mood
informative
thought‑provoking
Type
explanatory
educational
When to use this quote
- daily life
- personal achievements
- unexpected successes
- risk assessment
Key Concepts
law of large numbers
cognitive bias
miracle perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How does recognizing statistical rarity change your outlook?
- What everyday events could you label as “miracles”?
A Different Perspective
People may misinterpret random chance as meaning, leading to superstition.
