--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By eliminating the variables closest to…" description: "\"“By eliminating the variables closest to the primary variable, we immediately eliminate many potential root causes, and we can avoid collecting data ab..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/nat-greene-9189_quote_by-eliminating-the-variables-closest-to_1607533.jpg" --- # By eliminating the variables closest to the primary… ![“By eliminating the variables closest to the primary variable, we immediately eliminate many potential root causes, and we can avoid collecting data about or looking deeply into most of the process or system.” quote by Nat Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/nat-greene-9189_quote_by-eliminating-the-variables-closest-to_1607533.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/nat-greene-9189_quote_by-eliminating-the-variables-closest-to_1607533.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/nat-greene-9189_quote_by-eliminating-the-variables-closest-to_1607533.jpg) > ““By eliminating the variables closest to the primary variable, we immediately eliminate many potential root causes, and we can avoid collecting data about or looking deeply into most of the process or system.”” [Nat Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-greene/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Simplifying analysis by removing peripheral variables can obscure root causes and limit insight. **In simple terms:** Removing nearby factors hides deeper problems. Key Takeaway Avoid oversimplifying. Themes analysis problem solving critical thinking Mood analytical cautious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - business diagnostics - research design - process improvement Key Concepts systems thinking causality Questions to Reflect On - When have you ignored a seemingly minor factor? - What hidden causes could you be overlooking? A Different Perspective Simplification may miss hidden issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eliminate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eliminate/) [Eliminate Potential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eliminate-potential-6124544/) [Eliminating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eliminating/) [Eliminating Variables](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eliminating-variables-6124543/) [Variables Closest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variables-closest-6124545/) ## Related quotes > [I believe designers should eliminate the unnecessary. That means eliminating everything that is modish because this kind of thing is only short-lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-rams/i-believe-designers-should-eliminate-the-unnecessary-that-means/) [Dieter Rams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-rams/) > [Every month, about 20 tons of paper are wasted in restaurant menus alone, and so, you know, by that rationale, if you just ate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homaro-cantu/every-month-about-20-tons-of-paper-are-wasted-in-restaurant-menus/) [Homaro Cantu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homaro-cantu/) > [Yes, we absolutely need to eliminate the single-use plastic bag, but we don't have to eliminate the jobs of hardworking Californians to accomplish this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/yes-we-absolutely-need-to-eliminate-the-single-use-plastic-bag-but-we/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [It seems the EPA has worked hard to devise new regulations that are designed to eliminate coal mining, coal burning, usage of coal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-rogers/it-seems-the-epa-has-worked-hard-to-devise-new-regulations-that-are/) [Hal Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-rogers/) > [It is quite extraordinary how very various are the opinions entertained on this point, and, before sifting them, one must be careful in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-payn/it-is-quite-extraordinary-how-very-various-are-the-opinions/) [James Payn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-payn/) > [Eliminate emotion from your investment program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/eliminate-emotion-from-your-investment-program/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [Only way to eliminate the element of surprise is to know yourself and now your adversary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/only-way-to-eliminate-the-element-of-surprise-is-to-know-yourself-and/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [Eliminate the mindset of can't! Because you can do anything!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-horton/eliminate-the-mindset-of-can-t-because-you-can-do-anything/) [Tony Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-horton/) > [One of the reasons we don't have our deficit under control is because Republicans are wusses and won't tell their base a simple fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-rendell/one-of-the-reasons-we-don-t-have-our-deficit-under-control-is-because/) [Ed Rendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-rendell/) > [One of the main things for a leader is to eliminate confusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cottrell/one-of-the-main-things-for-a-leader-is-to-eliminate-confusion/) [David Cottrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cottrell/) > [A decision by the Supreme Court to subject Guantanamo to judicial review would eliminate these advantages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/a-decision-by-the-supreme-court-to-subject-guantanamo-to-judicial/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [God is about to eliminate the white man from this earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/god-is-about-to-eliminate-the-white-man-from-this-earth/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“In many ways, life is about managing your delusions; keeping the ones that nourish and eliminating the ones that poison.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/in-many-ways-life-is-about-managing-your-delusions-keeping-the-ones/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [You've got to eliminate the confusion in your life. And eliminate the excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ruettiger/you-ve-got-to-eliminate-the-confusion-in-your-life-and-eliminate-the/) [Rudy Ruettiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ruettiger/) > [Many of the factors that we think will cause motivation, such as fair pay and a good manager, won't make you love your job.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/many-of-the-factors-that-we-think-will-cause-motivation-such-as-fair/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) ## More by Nat Greene > [“If you believe that success is inevitable, you’re less likely to work your tail off in order to achieve it. Hard problems are definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-greene/if-you-believe-that-success-is-inevitable-you-re-less-likely-to-work/) [Nat Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-greene/) > [“To solve truly hard problems, you’ll need to use a method that doesn’t involve guessing in any step.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-greene/to-solve-truly-hard-problems-you-ll-need-to-use-a-method-that-doesn-t/) [Nat Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-greene/) > [“Defining the acceptable and unacceptable ranges for this variable means that the problem definition is objective and immune to opinion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-greene/defining-the-acceptable-and-unacceptable-ranges-for-this-variable/) [Nat Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-greene/) > [“Embrace your ignorance. Most people try to solve problems using the knowledge they already have about a process, but it’s what you don’t know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-greene/embrace-your-ignorance-most-people-try-to-solve-problems-using-the/) [Nat Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-greene/) > [“When a system isn’t working right, someone has to understand how it’s meant to work, at the right depth, in order to fix it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-greene/when-a-system-isn-t-working-right-someone-has-to-understand-how-it-s/) [Nat Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-greene/) > [“When you move down your tree, keep in mind there may be multiple variables contributing to the failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-greene/when-you-move-down-your-tree-keep-in-mind-there-may-be-multiple/) [Nat Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-greene/) > [“There are in fact two things, science and opinion; the former begets knowledge, the latter ignorance. —HIPPOCRATES, ANCIENT GREEK FOUNDER OF THE SCIENCE OF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-greene/there-are-in-fact-two-things-science-and-opinion-the-former-begets-2/) [Nat Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-greene/) > [“We need to understand what variables most directly control our primary variable by understanding the science behind how the system works.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-greene/we-need-to-understand-what-variables-most-directly-control-our/) [Nat Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-greene/) > [“Perhaps many aid organizations make assumptions about the problem they are solving, and throw hundreds of billions of dollars at the problem to little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-greene/perhaps-many-aid-organizations-make-assumptions-about-the-problem/) [Nat Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-greene/) > [“The last major risk to getting good facts is our own prejudices. While we may not always test a solution based on our opinions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-greene/the-last-major-risk-to-getting-good-facts-is-our-own-prejudices-while/) [Nat Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-greene/) > [“most methods disguise the guessing stage in some fancy language, such as “determine possible root causes.” This is making a list of guesses, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-greene/most-methods-disguise-the-guessing-stage-in-some-fancy-language-such/) [Nat Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-greene/) > [“Perhaps the most useful approach for defining the problem well is structuring it as a measurable variable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-greene/perhaps-the-most-useful-approach-for-defining-the-problem-well-is/) [Nat Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-greene/) > [“Don’t confuse believing in a simple solution with hoping that a simple guess will work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-greene/don-t-confuse-believing-in-a-simple-solution-with-hoping-that-a/) [Nat Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-greene/) > [“Keep in mind that the method you choose to guide you is of little use without strong problem-solving behaviors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-greene/keep-in-mind-that-the-method-you-choose-to-guide-you-is-of-little-use/) [Nat Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-greene/) > [“Even when diving into a problem, there’s a fear of looking ignorant or “stupid” by asking questions one is “supposed to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-greene/even-when-diving-into-a-problem-there-s-a-fear-of-looking-ignorant-or/) [Nat Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-greene/) [Explore all 74 Nat Greene quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-greene/) ## More Eliminate quotes > [Many of the factors that we think will cause motivation, such as fair pay and a good manager, won't make you love your job.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/many-of-the-factors-that-we-think-will-cause-motivation-such-as-fair/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [You've got to eliminate the confusion in your life. And eliminate the excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ruettiger/you-ve-got-to-eliminate-the-confusion-in-your-life-and-eliminate-the/) [Rudy Ruettiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ruettiger/) > [“In many ways, life is about managing your delusions; keeping the ones that nourish and eliminating the ones that poison.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/in-many-ways-life-is-about-managing-your-delusions-keeping-the-ones/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [God is about to eliminate the white man from this earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/god-is-about-to-eliminate-the-white-man-from-this-earth/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [A decision by the Supreme Court to subject Guantanamo to judicial review would eliminate these advantages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/a-decision-by-the-supreme-court-to-subject-guantanamo-to-judicial/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [One of the main things for a leader is to eliminate confusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cottrell/one-of-the-main-things-for-a-leader-is-to-eliminate-confusion/) [David Cottrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cottrell/) > [One of the reasons we don't have our deficit under control is because Republicans are wusses and won't tell their base a simple fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-rendell/one-of-the-reasons-we-don-t-have-our-deficit-under-control-is-because/) [Ed Rendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-rendell/) > [Eliminate the mindset of can't! Because you can do anything!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-horton/eliminate-the-mindset-of-can-t-because-you-can-do-anything/) [Tony Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-horton/) > [Only way to eliminate the element of surprise is to know yourself and now your adversary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/only-way-to-eliminate-the-element-of-surprise-is-to-know-yourself-and/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [Eliminate emotion from your investment program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/eliminate-emotion-from-your-investment-program/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [It is quite extraordinary how very various are the opinions entertained on this point, and, before sifting them, one must be careful in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-payn/it-is-quite-extraordinary-how-very-various-are-the-opinions/) [James Payn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-payn/) > [It seems the EPA has worked hard to devise new regulations that are designed to eliminate coal mining, coal burning, usage of coal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-rogers/it-seems-the-epa-has-worked-hard-to-devise-new-regulations-that-are/) [Hal Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-rogers/) > [Yes, we absolutely need to eliminate the single-use plastic bag, but we don't have to eliminate the jobs of hardworking Californians to accomplish this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/yes-we-absolutely-need-to-eliminate-the-single-use-plastic-bag-but-we/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [Every month, about 20 tons of paper are wasted in restaurant menus alone, and so, you know, by that rationale, if you just ate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homaro-cantu/every-month-about-20-tons-of-paper-are-wasted-in-restaurant-menus/) [Homaro Cantu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homaro-cantu/) > [Eliminate the cause of a mistake. Don't just clean it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-marriott/eliminate-the-cause-of-a-mistake-don-t-just-clean-it-up/) [J. Willard Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-willard-marriott/) [Browse all 140 Eliminate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eliminate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“By eliminating the variables closest to the primary variable, we immediately eliminate many potential root causes, and we can avoid collecting data about or looking deeply into most of the process or system.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nat Greene" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-greene/by-eliminating-the-variables-closest-to-the-primary-variable-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Eliminate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-greene/by-eliminating-the-variables-closest-to-the-primary-variable-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/nat-greene-9189_quote_by-eliminating-the-variables-closest-to_1607533.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/nat-greene-9189_quote_by-eliminating-the-variables-closest-to_1607533.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/nat-greene-9189_quote_by-eliminating-the-variables-closest-to_1607533.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“By eliminating the variables closest to the primary variable, we immediately eliminate many potential root…” — Nat Greene", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Nat Greene", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-greene/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“By eliminating the variables closest to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-greene/by-eliminating-the-variables-closest-to-the-primary-variable-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-greene/by-eliminating-the-variables-closest-to-the-primary-variable-we/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```