--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But the concepts of the physical sciences…" description: "\"“But the concepts of the physical sciences were ill-adapted to a world filled with acting men and women. The psychologic, the economic, these were matt..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/728/patrick-e-mclean-40540_men-and-women_but-the-concepts-of-the-physical-science_498611.jpg" --- # But the concepts of the physical sciences were ill-adapted… ![“But the concepts of the physical sciences were ill-adapted to a world filled with acting men and women. The psychologic, the economic, these were matters for which no equation could reliably provide truth. For today's statistical relationship was sure to be turned on it's head tomorrow by a change…” quote by Patrick E. McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/728/patrick-e-mclean-40540_men-and-women_but-the-concepts-of-the-physical-science_498611.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/728/patrick-e-mclean-40540_men-and-women_but-the-concepts-of-the-physical-science_498611.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/728/patrick-e-mclean-40540_men-and-women_but-the-concepts-of-the-physical-science_498611.jpg) > ““But the concepts of the physical sciences were ill-adapted to a world filled with acting men and women. The psychologic, the economic, these were matters for which no equation could reliably provide truth. For today's statistical relationship was sure to be turned on it's head tomorrow by a change of preference or fancy. Electrons can be excited, but they do not panic. Observe as many favorable conditions for a riot as you may like, better yet set all of them, and still a riot may not happen. And you will probably never know why your plan of domestic unrest was foiled." (From How to Succeed in Evil)”” [Patrick E. McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-e-mclean/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human behavior resists precise mathematical modeling; social unrest is unpredictable despite careful planning. **In simple terms:** People are hard to predict with equations. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty in social planning. Themes uncertainty human behavior politics planning Mood cautious reflective Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - political campaigns - market forecasts - crowd management - policy design Key Concepts complex systems emergent phenomena nonlinear dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders prepare for unpredictable social reactions? - What limits do equations have in forecasting human events? A Different Perspective Even perfect data cannot guarantee outcomes because human choices shift. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conditions Riot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions-riot-4251100/) [Domestic Unrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/domestic-unrest-4251103/) [Electrons Excited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electrons-excited-4251104/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Psychologic Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychologic-economic-4251102/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Set Riot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/set-riot-4251101/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“Galton’s gospel of eugenics found fertile soil in Britain, in the intellectual salons of Europe, and in the United States. 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McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-e-mclean/) [Explore all 11 Patrick E. McLean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-e-mclean/) ## More Men and women quotes > [“Galton’s gospel of eugenics found fertile soil in Britain, in the intellectual salons of Europe, and in the United States. Beginning in the early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-loconte/galton-s-gospel-of-eugenics-found-fertile-soil-in-britain-in-the/) [Joseph Loconte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-loconte/) > [Hats off to starting a franchise younger than we all did in 'Twilight' and keeping your cool. 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Women don't know what they want until they see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/men-and-women-shop-differently-men-know-what-they-want-before-they/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but most times he will pick himself up and carry on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/man-will-occasionally-stumble-over-the-truth-but-most-times-he-will/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [One of the reasons I wanted to start a company is because I wanted an environment that I wanted to work in. 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