Cases Quote by Josiah Stamp
“The Government are extremely fond of amassing great quantities of statistics. These are raised to the nth degree, the cube roots are extracted, and the results are arranged into elaborate and impressive displays. What must be kept in mind, however, is that in every case, the figures are first put down by a village watchman, and he puts down anything he damn well pleases!”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public remarks on statistics, 1930s
Statistics can be manipulated by those who collect them, making them unreliable without scrutiny.
In simple terms: Data can be distorted by biased collection.
Key Takeaway
Question sources and methods.
Themes
statistics
bias
interpretation
Mood
skeptical
critical
Type
cautionary
analytical
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- academic research
- media reporting
Key Concepts
Data integrity
measurement error
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify data accuracy?
- What safeguards prevent manipulation?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on flawed data leads to poor decisions.
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