Causation Quote by Randall Munroe
“Correlation doesn’t imply causation, but it does waggle its eyebrows suggestively and gesture furtively while mouthing ‘look over there.’”
About This Quote
Source Comic: xkcd #1739, 2015
Correlation hints at causation, but the suggestion is playful, implying people often misinterpret statistical links as intentional signals.
In simple terms: Correlation isn’t causation, but we joke about it.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about data relationships.
Themes
statistics
misinterpretation
humor
Mood
witty
educational
Type
informative
humorous
When to use this quote
- research
- media analysis
- education
Key Concepts
critical thinking
science communication
cognitive bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify true causation?
- What biases affect your data interpretation?
A Different Perspective
May underplay the seriousness of false causality.
