People Quote by George Carlin
“In most polls there are always about 5 percent of the people who 'don't know.' What isn't generally understood is that it's the same people in every poll.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, 2015
Polls repeatedly show a small, consistent group of respondents who claim they don’t know, revealing a stable unknown segment across surveys.
In simple terms: A tiny, steady group always says “don’t know” in polls.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and account for the persistent unknown demographic.
Themes
polling
statistics
public opinion
Mood
skeptical
analytical
Type
observational
critical
When to use this quote
- political surveys
- market research
- media analysis
Key Concepts
sampling bias
nonresponse
confidence intervals
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the unknown segment affect poll accuracy?
- What methods can reduce this bias?
A Different Perspective
The “don’t know” group may hide decisive opinions, skewing results.
