--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I learned that economics was not an exact…" description: "\"I learned that economics was not an exact science and that the most erudite men would analyze the economic ills of the world and derive a totally diffe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/edith-summerskill-baroness-sum_conclusion_i-learned-that-economics-was-not-an-exac_1301032.jpg" --- # I learned that economics was not an exact science and that… ![“I learned that economics was not an exact science and that the most erudite men would analyze the economic ills of the world and derive a totally different conclusion.” quote by Edith Summerskill, Baroness Summerskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/edith-summerskill-baroness-sum_conclusion_i-learned-that-economics-was-not-an-exac_1301032.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/edith-summerskill-baroness-sum_conclusion_i-learned-that-economics-was-not-an-exac_1301032.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/edith-summerskill-baroness-sum_conclusion_i-learned-that-economics-was-not-an-exac_1301032.jpg) > “I learned that economics was not an exact science and that the most erudite men would analyze the economic ills of the world and derive a totally different conclusion.” [Edith Summerskill, Baroness Summerskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-summerskill-baroness-summerskill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Economics is not precise; even experts can reach opposite conclusions from the same data. **In simple terms:** Economics is interpretive, not exact. Key Takeaway Question assumptions and seek diverse perspectives. Themes economics uncertainty analysis Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - academic research - public debate - media reporting Key Concepts interpretivism policy bias Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports your economic view? - How do biases affect economic conclusions? A Different Perspective Overreliance on models may mislead decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Analyze Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analyze-economic-4271775/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-conclusion-4271774/) [Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Erudite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erudite/) [Erudite Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erudite-men-4271773/) [Exact sciences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exact-sciences/) [Learned Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-economics-4271772/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science Erudite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-erudite-4271776/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [ By profession a biologist, \[Thomas Henry Huxley\] covered in fact the whole field of the exact sciences, and then bulged through its four fences.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/by-profession-a-biologist-thomas-henry-huxley-covered-in-fact-the/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Detection is, or ought to be, an exact science, and should be treated in the same cold and unemotional manner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/detection-is-or-ought-to-be-an-exact-science-and-should-be-treated-in-2/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [ This splendid subject \[mathematics\], queen of all exact sciences, and the ideal and norm of all careful thinking... ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-stanley-hall/this-splendid-subject-mathematics-queen-of-all-exact-sciences-and-the/) [G. Stanley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-stanley-hall/) > [Macroeconomics, even with all of our computers and with all of our information - is not an exact science and is incapable of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/macroeconomics-even-with-all-of-our-computers-and-with-all-of-our/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [Although this may seem a paradox, all exact science is dominated by the idea of approximation. When a man tells you that he knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/although-this-may-seem-a-paradox-all-exact-science-is-dominated-by/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Although this may seem a paradox, all exact science is based on the idea of approximation. If a man tells you he knows a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/although-this-may-seem-a-paradox-all-exact-science-is-based-on-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [All the mathematical sciences are founded on relations between physical laws and laws of numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/all-the-mathematical-sciences-are-founded-on-relations-between/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [Economics is not an exact science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/economics-is-not-an-exact-science/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Politics is no exact science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/politics-is-no-exact-science/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [For how shall we fill people with blind faith in the correctness of a doctrine, if we ourselves spread uncertainty and doubt by constant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/for-how-shall-we-fill-people-with-blind-faith-in-the-correctness-of-a/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Engineering training deals with the exact sciences. That sort of exactness makes for truth and conscience. It might be good for the world if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/engineering-training-deals-with-the-exact-sciences-that-sort-of/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [An exact science is one that admits loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genesis-p-orridge/an-exact-science-is-one-that-admits-loss/) [Genesis P-Orridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genesis-p-orridge/) > [ \[Dr. Constain James\] refuted so well the aberrations of Darwinism… \[A system\] which is repugnant at once to history, to the tradition of all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/dr-constain-james-refuted-so-well-the-aberrations-of-darwinism-a/) [Pope Pius IX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-ix/) > [If you ask ... the man in the street ... the human significance of mathematics, the answer of the world will be, that mathematics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassius-jackson-keyser/if-you-ask-the-man-in-the-street-the-human-significance-of/) [Cassius Jackson Keyser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassius-jackson-keyser/) > [Exact science and its practical movements are no checks on the greatest poet, but always his encouragement and support ... The sailor and traveller,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/exact-science-and-its-practical-movements-are-no-checks-on-the/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) ## More by Edith Summerskill, Baroness Summerskill > [Historically the opposition to abortion and birth control ... stemmed from the urgency of the need to decrease the mortality and morbidity rates and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-summerskill-baroness-summerskill/historically-the-opposition-to-abortion-and-birth-control-stemmed/) [Edith Summerskill, Baroness Summerskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-summerskill-baroness-summerskill/) > [Nagging is the repetition of unpalatable truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-summerskill-baroness-summerskill/nagging-is-the-repetition-of-unpalatable-truths/) [Edith Summerskill, Baroness Summerskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-summerskill-baroness-summerskill/) [Explore all 3 Edith Summerskill, Baroness Summerskill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-summerskill-baroness-summerskill/) ## More Conclusion quotes > [I'm not going to be part of looking at information only partially. I'm not going to be part of just coming to quick conclusions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/i-m-not-going-to-be-part-of-looking-at-information-only-partially-i-m/) [Max Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/) > [From what I have seen, I am driven to the conclusion that religion is only good for good people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/from-what-i-have-seen-i-am-driven-to-the-conclusion-that-religion-is/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. You don't necessarily reach any conclusions, because wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/the-thing-about-living-alone-is-that-it-gives-you-a-lot-of-time-to/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [The main conclusion here arrived at ... is that man is descended from some less highly organized form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-main-conclusion-here-arrived-at-is-that-man-is-descended-from/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [Your deeper sense isn’t a springboard; it’s a landing place. If you draw conclusions too quickly or too slowly, you’ll establish your self where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/your-deeper-sense-isn-t-a-springboard-it-s-a-landing-place-if-you/) [John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/) > [When there is a mission before you, you see it from its beginning to its conclusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-white/when-there-is-a-mission-before-you-you-see-it-from-its-beginning-to/) [Jesse White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-white/) > [Every study on chocolate is pointing to the same conclusion: there is something in chocolate that is really good for us. That something is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wolfe/every-study-on-chocolate-is-pointing-to-the-same-conclusion-there-is/) [David Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wolfe/) > [I have come to the definite conclusion that musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinichi-suzuki/i-have-come-to-the-definite-conclusion-that-musical-ability-is-not-an/) [Shinichi Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinichi-suzuki/) > [Study how a society uses its land, and you can come to pretty reliable conclusions as to what its future will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-f-schumacher/study-how-a-society-uses-its-land-and-you-can-come-to-pretty-reliable/) [E. F. Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-f-schumacher/) > [Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dr-arnold-the-admired-reformer-of-public-schools-came-across-some/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [That's what politics is. It's the story of what's happening, what does it mean, what's the conclusion, who are the interesting characters?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/that-s-what-politics-is-it-s-the-story-of-what-s-happening-what-does/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [It's my firm conclusion that human meaning comes from humans, not from a supernatural source. After we die, our hopes for an afterlife reside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/it-s-my-firm-conclusion-that-human-meaning-comes-from-humans-not-from/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [To each eye, perhaps, the outlines of a great civilization present a different picture. In the wide ocean upon which we venture, the possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-burckhardt/to-each-eye-perhaps-the-outlines-of-a-great-civilization-present-a/) [Jacob Burckhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-burckhardt/) > [If you jump to conclusion you can't step on a clue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-santinello/if-you-jump-to-conclusion-you-can-t-step-on-a-clue/) [James Santinello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-santinello/) > [I cannot escape from the conclusion that the great ages of progress have depended upon a small number of individuals of transcendent ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-cannot-escape-from-the-conclusion-that-the-great-ages-of-progress/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) [Browse all 1,619 Conclusion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I learned that economics was not an exact science and that the most erudite men would analyze the economic ills of the world and derive a totally different conclusion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edith Summerskill, Baroness Summerskill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-summerskill-baroness-summerskill/i-learned-that-economics-was-not-an-exact-science-and-that-the-most/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conclusion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-summerskill-baroness-summerskill/i-learned-that-economics-was-not-an-exact-science-and-that-the-most/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/edith-summerskill-baroness-sum_conclusion_i-learned-that-economics-was-not-an-exac_1301032.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/edith-summerskill-baroness-sum_conclusion_i-learned-that-economics-was-not-an-exac_1301032.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/edith-summerskill-baroness-sum_conclusion_i-learned-that-economics-was-not-an-exac_1301032.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I learned that economics was not an exact science and that the most erudite men would analyze the economic…” — Edith Summerskill, Baroness Summerskill", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Edith Summerskill, Baroness Summerskill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-summerskill-baroness-summerskill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I learned that economics was not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-summerskill-baroness-summerskill/i-learned-that-economics-was-not-an-exact-science-and-that-the-most/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-summerskill-baroness-summerskill/i-learned-that-economics-was-not-an-exact-science-and-that-the-most/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```