--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only census of the senses, so far as…" description: "\"The only census of the senses, so far as I am aware, that ever before made them more than five, was the Irishman's reckoning of seven senses. I presume..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9b/lord-kelvin-10819_believe_the-only-census-of-the-senses-so-far-as_2473592.png" --- # The only census of the senses, so far as I am aware, that… ![“The only census of the senses, so far as I am aware, that ever before made them more than five, was the Irishman's reckoning of seven senses. I presume the Irishman's seventh sense was common sense; and I believe that the possession of that virtue by my countrymen-I speak as an Irishman.” quote by Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9b/lord-kelvin-10819_believe_the-only-census-of-the-senses-so-far-as_2473592.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9b/lord-kelvin-10819_believe_the-only-census-of-the-senses-so-far-as_2473592.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9b/lord-kelvin-10819_believe_the-only-census-of-the-senses-so-far-as_2473592.png) > “The only census of the senses, so far as I am aware, that ever before made them more than five, was the Irishman's reckoning of seven senses. I presume the Irishman's seventh sense was common sense; and I believe that the possession of that virtue by my countrymen-I speak as an Irishman.” [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author humorously expands the traditional five senses to seven, suggesting common sense as the seventh. **In simple terms:** The seven senses include common sense. Key Takeaway Value common sense as a guiding sense. Themes perception humor philosophy Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical humorous When to use this quote - education - decision making - creative brainstorming - critical analysis Key Concepts sensory expansion cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - When does common sense fail? - How can we balance intuition with evidence? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on “common sense” may ignore nuanced data. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Common sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-sense/) [Countrymen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/countrymen/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Reckoning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reckoning/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [I am almost frightened out of my seven senses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/i-am-almost-frightened-out-of-my-seven-senses/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [A man in Mali told me that there are seven senses. Everyone has five, some can use their sixth. But not everyone has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-daulne/a-man-in-mali-told-me-that-there-are-seven-senses-everyone-has-five/) Marie Daulne > [“The Seventh Sense" Women who build nations learn to love men who build nations learn to love children building sand castles by the rising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/the-seventh-sense-women-who-build-nations-learn-to-love-men-who-build/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [Love is the seventh sense which destroys all the six senses and makes you a complete non-sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/love-is-the-seventh-sense-which-destroys-all-the-six-senses-and-makes/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I was getting a lot of offers in Telugu when I was shooting for 'Oh My Friend' and 'Seventh Sense.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shruti-haasan/i-was-getting-a-lot-of-offers-in-telugu-when-i-was-shooting-for-oh-my/) [Shruti Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shruti-haasan/) > [“Common sense is our seventh sense that is guiding our personality. It embraces all other secured senses growing in the shadow of humbleness without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/common-sense-is-our-seventh-sense-that-is-guiding-our-personality-it/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [People resist a census, but give them a profile page and they'll spend all day telling you who they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-barry/people-resist-a-census-but-give-them-a-profile-page-and-they-ll-spend/) [Max Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-barry/) > [The Census Bureau is thinking of creating a new category because so many kids don't know how to describe themselves using the existing categories.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/the-census-bureau-is-thinking-of-creating-a-new-category-because-so/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [“According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a family is defined as two or more people living together who are related by birth, marriage or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/according-to-the-u-s-census-bureau-a-family-is-defined-as-two-or-more/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [I don't think the government is out to get me or help someone else get me but it wouldn't surprise me if they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/i-don-t-think-the-government-is-out-to-get-me-or-help-someone-else/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [As we search for change and seek for our voices to be heard, completing the census will help get us the resources we need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/as-we-search-for-change-and-seek-for-our-voices-to-be-heard/) [Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/) > [If Congress sees fit to impose a capitation, or other direct tax, it must be laid in proportion to the census; if Congress determines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salmon-p-chase/if-congress-sees-fit-to-impose-a-capitation-or-other-direct-tax-it/) [Salmon P. Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salmon-p-chase/) > [One thing that's really interesting is not only the magnitude of the recent immigration into this country, but also its distribution and its investment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-prewitt/one-thing-that-s-really-interesting-is-not-only-the-magnitude-of-the/) Kenneth Prewitt > [There are two economic realities in America in 2016. There's been a record six straight years of job growth, and new census numbers show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-holt/there-are-two-economic-realities-in-america-in-2016-there-s-been-a/) [Lester Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-holt/) > [...the number of saintly men has not yet risen to the level where the census makes them a separate statistical category.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stigler/the-number-of-saintly-men-has-not-yet-risen-to-the-level-where-the/) [George Stigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stigler/) ## More by Lord Kelvin > [Christianity without the cross is nothing. The cross was the fitting close of a life of rejection, scorn and defeat. But in no true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/christianity-without-the-cross-is-nothing-the-cross-was-the-fitting/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [If you study science deep enough and long enough, it will force you to believe in God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/if-you-study-science-deep-enough-and-long-enough-it-will-force-you-to/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [When you are face to face with a difficulty, you are up against a discovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/when-you-are-face-to-face-with-a-difficulty-you-are-up-against-a/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [If you can not measure it, you can not improve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/if-you-can-not-measure-it-you-can-not-improve-it/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/i-often-say-that-when-you-can-measure-what-you-are-speaking-about-and/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [If you cannot measure it, then it is not science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/if-you-cannot-measure-it-then-it-is-not-science/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [Simplification of modes of proof is not merely an indication of advance in our knowledge of a subject, but is also the surest guarantee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/simplification-of-modes-of-proof-is-not-merely-an-indication-of/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [Quaternions came from Hamilton after his really good work had been done, and though beautifully ingenious, have been an unmixed evil to those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/quaternions-came-from-hamilton-after-his-really-good-work-had-been/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [Do not imagine that mathematics is hard and crabbed, and repulsive to common sense. It is merely the etherealization of common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/do-not-imagine-that-mathematics-is-hard-and-crabbed-and-repulsive-to/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [Let nobody be afraid of true freedom of thought. Let us be free in thought and criticism; but, with freedom, we are bound to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/let-nobody-be-afraid-of-true-freedom-of-thought-let-us-be-free-in/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [Symmetrical equations are good in their place, but ' vector ' is a useless survival, or offshoot from quaternions, and has never been of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/symmetrical-equations-are-good-in-their-place-but-vector-is-a-useless/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [Mathematics is the only good metaphysics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/mathematics-is-the-only-good-metaphysics/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [You know only insofar as you can measure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/you-know-only-insofar-as-you-can-measure/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [Fourier is a mathematical poem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/fourier-is-a-mathematical-poem/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [When you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/when-you-can-measure-what-you-are-speaking-about-and-express-it-in/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) [Explore all 63 Lord Kelvin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only census of the senses, so far as I am aware, that ever before made them more than five, was the Irishman's reckoning of seven senses. 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