--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there is something very slightly wrong…" description: "\"If there is something very slightly wrong in our definition of the theories, then the full mathematical rigor may convert these errors into ridiculous ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/482/richard-p-feynman-495_conclusion_if-there-is-something-very-slightly-wron_1146977.png" --- # If there is something very slightly wrong in our… ![“If there is something very slightly wrong in our definition of the theories, then the full mathematical rigor may convert these errors into ridiculous conclusions.” quote by Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/482/richard-p-feynman-495_conclusion_if-there-is-something-very-slightly-wron_1146977.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/482/richard-p-feynman-495_conclusion_if-there-is-something-very-slightly-wron_1146977.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/482/richard-p-feynman-495_conclusion_if-there-is-something-very-slightly-wron_1146977.png) > “If there is something very slightly wrong in our definition of the theories, then the full mathematical rigor may convert these errors into ridiculous conclusions.” [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Minor errors in definitions can be magnified by rigorous mathematics, leading to absurd outcomes. **In simple terms:** Small definition flaws can cause huge mistakes when applied rigorously. Key Takeaway Check definitions carefully before formalizing. Themes precision mathematics error analysis Mood cautious analytical Type philosophical technical When to use this quote - academic research - engineering design - software development - policy modeling Key Concepts logic foundations theory rigor Questions to Reflect On - How can we detect hidden assumptions? - When should we prioritize intuition over formalism? A Different Perspective Even rigorous methods cannot fix fundamentally flawed premises. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Definition Theories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definition-theories-3224221/) [Definitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definitions/) [Errors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/errors/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Mathematical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematical/) [Mathematical Rigor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematical-rigor-3224220/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Ridiculous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridiculous/) [Ridiculous Conclusions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridiculous-conclusions-3224218/) [Rigor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rigor/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Theories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theories/) [Theories Mathematical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theories-mathematical-3224219/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) ## Related quotes > [The object of mathematical rigor is to sanction and legitimize the conquests of intuition, and there was never any other object for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-hadamard/the-object-of-mathematical-rigor-is-to-sanction-and-legitimize-the/) [Jacques Hadamard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-hadamard/) > [One of the central developments of 19th century mathematics involved a dramatic increase in the standards of mathematical rigor. 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It is, therefore, my first wish, to have my whole conduct distinguished by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/lenity-will-operate-with-greater-force-in-some-instances-than-rigor/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The idea of freedom can never be disassociated from real Prussia. The real Prussian spirit means a synthesis between restraint and freedom, between voluntary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-von-tresckow/the-idea-of-freedom-can-never-be-disassociated-from-real-prussia-the/) [Henning von Tresckow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-von-tresckow/) > [ Again, I hear almost everyday from atheists who write off religion as primitive, premodern nonsense. I summon Aquinas, Augustine, Paul \[of Tarsus\], Teresa of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/again-i-hear-almost-everyday-from-atheists-who-write-off-religion-as/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [Like many others, I have deep misgivings about the state of education in the United States. Too many of our students fail to graduate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/like-many-others-i-have-deep-misgivings-about-the-state-of-education/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) ## More by Richard P. Feynman > [“Philosophers have said before that one of the fundamental requisites of science is that whenever you set up the same conditions, the same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/philosophers-have-said-before-that-one-of-the-fundamental-requisites/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [My rule is, when you are unhappy, think about it. But when you're happy, don't. Why spoil it? You're probably happy for some ridiculous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/my-rule-is-when-you-are-unhappy-think-about-it-but-when-you-re-happy/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Trying to understand the way nature works involves a most terrible test of human reasoning ability. It involves subtle trickery, beautiful tightropes of logic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/trying-to-understand-the-way-nature-works-involves-a-most-terrible/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Today's brains are yesterday's mashed potatoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/today-s-brains-are-yesterday-s-mashed-potatoes/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Mathematics is a language plus reasoning; it is like a language plus logic. Mathematics is a tool for reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/mathematics-is-a-language-plus-reasoning-it-is-like-a-language-plus/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [It is necessary for the very existence of science that minds exist which do not allow that nature must satisfy some preconceived conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/it-is-necessary-for-the-very-existence-of-science-that-minds-exist/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [“There was a Princess Somebody of Denmark sitting at a table with a number of people around her, and I saw an empty chair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/there-was-a-princess-somebody-of-denmark-sitting-at-a-table-with-a/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [All the time you're saying to yourself, 'I could do that, but I won't,'--which is just another way of saying that you can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/all-the-time-you-re-saying-to-yourself-i-could-do-that-but-i-won-t/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [“There's a big difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/there-s-a-big-difference-between-knowing-the-name-of-something-and/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [The fact that you are not sure means that it is possible that there is another way someday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/the-fact-that-you-are-not-sure-means-that-it-is-possible-that-there/) [Richard P. 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You don't necessarily reach any conclusions, because wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/the-thing-about-living-alone-is-that-it-gives-you-a-lot-of-time-to/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [The main conclusion here arrived at ... is that man is descended from some less highly organized form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-main-conclusion-here-arrived-at-is-that-man-is-descended-from/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [Your deeper sense isn’t a springboard; it’s a landing place. 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That something is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wolfe/every-study-on-chocolate-is-pointing-to-the-same-conclusion-there-is/) [David Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wolfe/) > [I have come to the definite conclusion that musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinichi-suzuki/i-have-come-to-the-definite-conclusion-that-musical-ability-is-not-an/) [Shinichi Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinichi-suzuki/) > [Study how a society uses its land, and you can come to pretty reliable conclusions as to what its future will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-f-schumacher/study-how-a-society-uses-its-land-and-you-can-come-to-pretty-reliable/) [E. F. Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-f-schumacher/) > [Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. 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