--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is vain philosophy that supposes more…" description: "\"It is vain philosophy that supposes more causes than are exactly adequate to explain the phenomena of things.\" — Percy Bysshe Shelley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_adequate_it-is-vain-philosophy-that-supposes-more_633836.jpg" --- # It is vain philosophy that supposes more causes than are… ![“It is vain philosophy that supposes more causes than are exactly adequate to explain the phenomena of things.” quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_adequate_it-is-vain-philosophy-that-supposes-more_633836.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_adequate_it-is-vain-philosophy-that-supposes-more_633836.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_adequate_it-is-vain-philosophy-that-supposes-more_633836.jpg) > “It is vain philosophy that supposes more causes than are exactly adequate to explain the phenomena of things.” [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It criticizes overly complex explanations that add unnecessary causes beyond what is sufficient to understand phenomena. **In simple terms:** Too many causes confuse understanding. Key Takeaway Simplify explanations to match evidence. Themes philosophy logic clarity Mood analytical critical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - scientific research - policy analysis - education - critical thinking Key Concepts Occam's razor causation epistemology Questions to Reflect On - Are you overcomplicating a problem? - When is simplicity insufficient? A Different Perspective Complex causes may be necessary in some contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adequate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adequate/) [Adequate Explain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adequate-explain-5102523/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Explain Phenomena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explain-phenomena-2053536/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy Supposes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-supposes-2086640/) [Supposes Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supposes-causes-5102522/) [Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain/) [Vain Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain-philosophy-3403570/) ## Related quotes > [“It is vain philosophy that supposes more causes than are exactly adequate to explain the phenomena of things. . . . You assert that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-is-vain-philosophy-that-supposes-more-causes-than-are-exactly-2/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Ordinary speciation remains fully adequate to explain the causes and phenomenology of punctuation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/ordinary-speciation-remains-fully-adequate-to-explain-the-causes-and/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [“We have none of us long to live. Let us help each other through seasons of want and woe as well as we can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/we-have-none-of-us-long-to-live-let-us-help-each-other-through/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Whenever a true theory appears, it will be its own evidence. Its test is, that it will explain all phenomena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/whenever-a-true-theory-appears-it-will-be-its-own-evidence-its-test/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“For those who are not hungry, it is easy to palaver about the degradation of charity, and so on: but they forget the brevity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/for-those-who-are-not-hungry-it-is-easy-to-palaver-about-the/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [ \[To\] explain the phenomena of the mineral kingdom ... systems are usually reduced to two classes, according as they refer to the origin of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-playfair/to-explain-the-phenomena-of-the-mineral-kingdom-systems-are-usually/) [John Playfair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-playfair/) > [Learning to explain phenomena such that one continues to be fascinated by the failure of one's explanations creates a continuing cycle of thinking, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-schank/learning-to-explain-phenomena-such-that-one-continues-to-be/) [Roger Schank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-schank/) > [I never said a word against eminent men of science. What I complain of is a vague popular philosophy which supposes itself to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/i-never-said-a-word-against-eminent-men-of-science-what-i-complain-of-2/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [The moment philosophy supposes it can find a final and comprehensive solution, it ceases to be inquiry and becomes either apologetics or propaganda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-moment-philosophy-supposes-it-can-find-a-final-and-comprehensive/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [“I never said a word against eminent men of science. What I complain of is a vague popular philosophy which supposes itself to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/i-never-said-a-word-against-eminent-men-of-science-what-i-complain-of/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Art can only be truly art by presenting an adequate outward symbol of some fact in the interior life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-fuller/art-can-only-be-truly-art-by-presenting-an-adequate-outward-symbol-of/) [Margaret Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-fuller/) > [And I am quite serious when I say that I do not believe there are, on the whole earth besides, so many intensified bores…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/and-i-am-quite-serious-when-i-say-that-i-do-not-believe-there-are-on/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Seen from the point of view of the composer, the most nonsensical practice is that of casting people in musicals who are unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gold/seen-from-the-point-of-view-of-the-composer-the-most-nonsensical/) [Ernest Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gold/) > [The action carries a sense of incompleteness and frustration, but not of guilt. Victorious living does not mean perfect living in the sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/the-action-carries-a-sense-of-incompleteness-and-frustration-but-not/) [E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/) > [What I search for continuously in my art is adequate language, language I hope can stand beyond any particular occasion. What I'm finding is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/what-i-search-for-continuously-in-my-art-is-adequate-language/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) ## More by Percy Bysshe Shelley > [The everlasting universe of things Flows through the mind, and rolls its rapid waves, Now dark--now glittering--now reflecting gloom-- Now lending splendour, where from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-everlasting-universe-of-things-flows-through-the-mind-and-rolls/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [The quick Dreams, The passion-winged Ministers of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-quick-dreams-the-passion-winged-ministers-of-thought/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Hail to thee, blithe Spirit!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/hail-to-thee-blithe-spirit/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [The jealous keys of truth's eternal doors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-jealous-keys-of-truth-s-eternal-doors/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [“Though we eat little flesh and drink no wine, Yet let's be merry; we'll have tea and toast; Custards for supper, and an endless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/though-we-eat-little-flesh-and-drink-no-wine-yet-let-s-be-merry-we-ll/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [A dream has power to poison sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/a-dream-has-power-to-poison-sleep/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Titles are tinsel, power a corrupter, glorya bubble, and excessive wealth a libel on its possessor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/titles-are-tinsel-power-a-corrupter-glorya-bubble-and-excessive/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [“I fall upon the thorns of life! I bleed !”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/i-fall-upon-the-thorns-of-life-i-bleed/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [“Poets and philosophers are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/poets-and-philosophers-are-the-unacknowledged-legislators-of-the-world/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Dar'st thou amid the varied multitude To live alone, an isolated thing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/dar-st-thou-amid-the-varied-multitude-to-live-alone-an-isolated-thing/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Spirit of BEAUTY, that dost consecrate With thine own hues all thou dost shine upon Of human thought or form, where art thou gone?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/spirit-of-beauty-that-dost-consecrate-with-thine-own-hues-all-thou/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [I love tranquil solitude, And such society As is quiet, wise, and good; Between thee and me What difference? but thou dost possess The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/i-love-tranquil-solitude-and-such-society-as-is-quiet-wise-and-good/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [The practice of utter sincerity towards other men would avail to no good end, if they were incapable of practising it towards their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-practice-of-utter-sincerity-towards-other-men-would-avail-to-no/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Thou shoreless flood, which in thy ebb and flow claspest the limits of mortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/thou-shoreless-flood-which-in-thy-ebb-and-flow-claspest-the-limits-of/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Senseless is the breast and cold Which relenting love would fold; Bloodless are the veins and chill Which the pulse of pain did fill;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/senseless-is-the-breast-and-cold-which-relenting-love-would-fold/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) [Explore all 533 Percy Bysshe Shelley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) ## More Adequate quotes > [What I search for continuously in my art is adequate language, language I hope can stand beyond any particular occasion. What I'm finding is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/what-i-search-for-continuously-in-my-art-is-adequate-language/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [The action carries a sense of incompleteness and frustration, but not of guilt. Victorious living does not mean perfect living in the sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/the-action-carries-a-sense-of-incompleteness-and-frustration-but-not/) [E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/) > [Seen from the point of view of the composer, the most nonsensical practice is that of casting people in musicals who are unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gold/seen-from-the-point-of-view-of-the-composer-the-most-nonsensical/) [Ernest Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gold/) > [And I am quite serious when I say that I do not believe there are, on the whole earth besides, so many intensified bores…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/and-i-am-quite-serious-when-i-say-that-i-do-not-believe-there-are-on/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Art can only be truly art by presenting an adequate outward symbol of some fact in the interior life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-fuller/art-can-only-be-truly-art-by-presenting-an-adequate-outward-symbol-of/) [Margaret Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-fuller/) > [The President has once again failed us. Millions of Americans are at risk of going without the flu vaccine this year because the administration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-corzine/the-president-has-once-again-failed-us-millions-of-americans-are-at/) [Jon Corzine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-corzine/) > [All the world’s major religions, with their emphasis on love, compassion, patience, tolerance and forgiveness, can and do promote inner values. But the reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/all-the-world-s-major-religions-with-their-emphasis-on-love/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Conversation in its happiest development is a link, equally exquisite and adequate, between mind and mind, a system by which men approach one another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/conversation-in-its-happiest-development-is-a-link-equally-exquisite/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [A strong accountability system needs to broaden, not narrow, the curriculum. That cannot happen if you only have accountability without adequate school funding. Until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gelber/a-strong-accountability-system-needs-to-broaden-not-narrow-the/) [Dan Gelber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gelber/) > [All propaganda or popularization involves a putting of the complex into the simple, but such a move is instantly not constructive. For if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/all-propaganda-or-popularization-involves-a-putting-of-the-complex/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [You have no right to go before a public without an adequate technique, just because you feel. Anything feels - a leaf feels, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/you-have-no-right-to-go-before-a-public-without-an-adequate-technique/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [In sum, the Court's conclusion that a constitutionally adequate recount is impractical is a prophecy the Court's own judgment will not allow to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/in-sum-the-court-s-conclusion-that-a-constitutionally-adequate/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [Travelling doesn't stress me, since adequate 10-hour sleep post-travel is sufficient for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anushka-shetty/travelling-doesn-t-stress-me-since-adequate-10-hour-sleep-post-travel/) [Anushka Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anushka-shetty/) > [Remorse is cureless--the Disease Not even God--can heal-- For 'tis His institution--and The Adequate of Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/remorse-is-cureless-the-disease-not-even-god-can-heal-for-tis-his/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Too often, attention is diverted from the needs of populations, insufficient emphasis is placed on work in the fields, and the goods of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/too-often-attention-is-diverted-from-the-needs-of-populations/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) [Browse all 522 Adequate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adequate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is vain philosophy that supposes more causes than are exactly adequate to explain the phenomena of things.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Percy Bysshe Shelley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/it-is-vain-philosophy-that-supposes-more-causes-than-are-exactly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adequate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/it-is-vain-philosophy-that-supposes-more-causes-than-are-exactly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_adequate_it-is-vain-philosophy-that-supposes-more_633836.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_adequate_it-is-vain-philosophy-that-supposes-more_633836.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_adequate_it-is-vain-philosophy-that-supposes-more_633836.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is vain philosophy that supposes more causes than are exactly adequate to explain the phenomena of things.” — Percy Bysshe Shelley", "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": "Percy Bysshe Shelley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is vain philosophy that supposes...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/it-is-vain-philosophy-that-supposes-more-causes-than-are-exactly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/it-is-vain-philosophy-that-supposes-more-causes-than-are-exactly/#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 } } ] } ```