Believe Quote by Gregory Bateson
“There is a strong tendency in explanatory prose to invoke quantities of tension, energy, and whatnot to explain the genesis of pattern. I believe that all such explanations are inappropriate or wrong.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Steps to an Ecology of Mind, Gregory Bateson, 1972
He argues that using tension, energy, or similar metaphors to explain patterns is misleading and inaccurate.
In simple terms: Metaphors like tension mislead explanations of patterns.
Key Takeaway
Seek precise, evidence‑based explanations.
Themes
explanatory prose
science
communication
metaphor
accuracy
Mood
analytical
critical
inquisitive
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- teaching
- public discourse
- policy making
- media analysis
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
language limits
scientific rigor
Questions to Reflect On
- When are metaphorical explanations useful?
- How can we improve clarity without losing engagement?
A Different Perspective
Metaphors can aid intuition despite their flaws.
![“The illusion that Nature … adopts the same complexity scale used by people … arises each time we face … configuration [space]…. The second law of Thermodynamics, for example, has been interpreted in many textbooks as though Nature exhibits an incurable tendency to disrupt order. Nature, of course…” quote by Judea Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6e9/judea-pearl-150063_nature_the-illusion-that-nature-adopts-the-same_906910.jpg)
