Atrophy Quote by John Kenneth Galbraith
“There can be no question, however, that prolonged commitment to mathematical exercises in economics can be damaging. It leads to the atrophy of judgement and intuition. . .”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Affluent Society, John Kenneth Galbraith, 1958
Excessive focus on formal math in economics erodes practical judgment and intuition, making analysis less grounded in reality.
In simple terms: Too much math harms economic intuition.
Key Takeaway
Balance quantitative rigor with real‑world insight.
Themes
economics
education
intuition
judgment
methodology
Mood
cautious
reflective
critical
Type
advisory
analytical
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- academic research
- teaching economics
- consulting
- financial forecasting
Key Concepts
mathematical modeling
cognitive at
decision making
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you ensure intuition guides your analytical work?
- When might mathematical precision mislead policy decisions?
A Different Perspective
Quantitative tools are useful but cannot replace experiential knowledge.
![“The disinterest [of my two great-aunts] in anything that had to do with high society was such that their sense of hearing ... put to rest its receptor organs and allowed them to suffer the true beginnings of atrophy.” quote by Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/08f/marcel-proust-114_atrophy_the-disinterest-of-my-two-great-aunts-in_172597.jpg)
