Air Quote by O. Henry
“A straw vote only shows which way the hot air blows.”
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Cop and the Anthem”, 1904
A straw poll reflects prevailing opinions but lacks depth or substance.
In simple terms: Polls show popular trends, not truth.
Key Takeaway
Look beyond surface opinions.
Themes
politics
media
public opinion
Mood
skeptical
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- elections
- marketing
- policy making
Key Concepts
statistics
survey methodology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you evaluate the reliability of a poll?
- When should you trust popular opinion?
A Different Perspective
Polls can be manipulated or misinterpreted.
![“[A]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air. And be careful what you swallow.” quote by Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/da8/dr-seuss-1224_advice_a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-f_6806.jpg)
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
