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Doctor Quote by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

“It is a very recent disease to mistake the unobserved for the nonexistent; but some are plagued with the worse disease of mistaking the unobserved for the unobservable.” quote by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
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““It is a very recent disease to mistake the unobserved for the nonexistent; but some are plagued with the worse disease of mistaking the unobserved for the unobservable.””

Nassim Nicholas Taleb

About This Quote

Source Book: The Black Swan, 2007

Mistaking what is unobserved for nonexistent is a modern disease; worse is treating the unobserved as unobservable.

In simple terms: Avoid ignoring unseen possibilities.

Key Takeaway

Question assumptions.

Themes

uncertainty knowledge science

Mood

analytical cautious

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • research
  • policy making
  • risk assessment

Key Concepts

epistemology critical thinking

Questions to Reflect On

  • What do you assume you know?
  • How to detect unseen risks?
A Different Perspective

Over‑reliance on data can blind to hidden factors.

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