Advantage Quote by Lewis Fry Richardson
“Another advantage of a mathematical statement is that it is so definite that it might be definitely wrong; and if it is found to be wrong, there is a plenteous choice of amendments ready in the mathematicians' stock of formulae. Some verbal statements have not this merit; they are so vague that they could hardly be wrong, and are correspondingly useless.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Nature of the Physical World, 1931
Mathematical statements are precise and testable, allowing clear correction; vague verbal statements lack this rigor and are less useful.
In simple terms: Clear math can be fixed; vague words cannot.
Key Takeaway
Prefer precise, testable language.
Themes
precision
logic
communication
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
academic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- policy drafting
- education
- technical writing
Key Concepts
mathematics
philosophy of language
Questions to Reflect On
- When is ambiguity beneficial?
- How do we balance precision with accessibility?
A Different Perspective
Vagueness can sometimes be intentional to allow flexibility.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
