Contrary Quote by Harold Jeffreys
“Variation must be taken as random until there is positive evidence to the contrary.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Theory of Probability by Harold Jeffreys, 1939
Treat unknown variables as random until data shows otherwise, avoiding premature assumptions.
In simple terms: Assume randomness until proven otherwise.
Key Takeaway
Base decisions on evidence, not speculation.
Themes
statistics
uncertainty
decision making
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
philosophical
scientific
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- risk assessment
- policy analysis
Key Concepts
probability theory
Bayesian inference
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance caution with action?
- When is it safe to assume randomness?
A Different Perspective
Evidence may be scarce, leading to indecision.
![“[O]ne of the mixed blessings of being twenty and twenty-one and even twenty-three is the conviction that nothing like this, all evidence to the contrary notwithstanding, has ever happened before.” quote by Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ee4/joan-didion-497_blessing_o-ne-of-the-mixed-blessings-of-being-twe_805293.jpg)
![“What the use of P [the significance level] implies, therefore, is that a hypothesis that may be true may be rejected because it has not predicted observable results that have not occurred.” quote by Harold Jeffreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/03a/harold-jeffreys-47480_being-true_what-the-use-of-p-the-significance-level_1333387.jpg)
