Flight Quote by E. B. White
“The so-called science of poll-taking is not a science at all but mere necromancy. People are unpredictable by nature, and although you can take a nation's pulse, you can't be sure that the nation hasn't just run up a flight of stairs.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Science of Poll‑Taking” (hypothetical), 1950s
Polls claim scientific rigor but actually rely on unpredictable human behavior, making results uncertain.
In simple terms: Polls are not truly scientific.
Key Takeaway
Treat poll results cautiously.
Themes
statistics
human behavior
uncertainty
Mood
skeptical
analytical
Type
critical
observational
When to use this quote
- election forecasting
- market research
- public health surveys
Key Concepts
polling
prediction
mass opinion
Questions to Reflect On
- How reliable are polls in your field?
- What factors skew poll outcomes?
A Different Perspective
Polls can be misleading if over‑interpreted.
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
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