Country Quote by Martha Gellhorn
“We lisp in numbers, in the U.S. We are deluged by ample, often mysterious statistics. ... Like many in this country, I have come to regard statistics with doubt and merely as a hint of the probable shape of fact.”
About This Quote
The author expresses skepticism toward statistics, viewing them as limited hints rather than definitive truths.
In simple terms: Statistics are uncertain clues.
Key Takeaway
Treat data cautiously.
Themes
statistics
skepticism
truth
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- research evaluation
- public discourse
Key Concepts
critical thinking
media literacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify statistical claims?
- When should intuition outweigh data?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on stats can mislead decisions.
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
