Belief Quote by John Allen Paulos
“In listening to stories we tend to suspend disbelief in order to be entertained, whereas in evaluating statistics we generally have an opposite inclination to suspend belief in order not to be beguiled.”
About This Quote
Source Book: "Innumeracy", 1988
Stories invite suspension of disbelief for entertainment; statistics demand skepticism to avoid deception.
In simple terms: Stories vs. statistics: belief vs. doubt.
Question data critically, enjoy narratives.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- news consumption
- policy analysis
- education
- marketing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify statistical claims?
- When do you allow disbelief in a story?
Statistical literacy varies, leading to misinterpretation.