Example Quote by Richard P. Feynman
“It is impossible, by the way, when picking one example of anything, to avoid picking one which is atypical in some sense.”
About This Quote
When selecting a single example, you inevitably encounter an outlier; no example can fully represent a whole, highlighting the limits of anecdotal evidence.
In simple terms: Any single example will be atypical in some way.
Key Takeaway
Examples are inherently limited.
Themes
logic
statistics
argumentation
bias
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
observation
cautionary note
When to use this quote
- scientific reporting
- policy making
- marketing claims
Key Concepts
representativeness heuristic
sampling error
Practical Applications
- Complement single examples with broader data.
- Explicitly acknowledge the atypical nature of a case study.
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you guard against overgeneralizing from one case?
- When is an atypical example useful?
A Different Perspective
Sometimes a striking outlier can illustrate a principle better than average cases.
