Appropriate Quote by Ronald Fisher
“No isolated experiment, however significant in itself, can suffice for the experimental demonstration of any natural phenomenon; for the "one chance in a million" will undoubtedly occur, with no less and no more than its appropriate frequency, however surprised we may be that it should occur to us.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Statistical Methods for Research Workers, 1925
A single experiment, no matter how striking, cannot prove a natural law; many repetitions matching expected frequency are needed.
In simple terms: One experiment isn’t enough to prove a law.
Key Takeaway
Require repeated evidence.
Themes
science
methodology
evidence
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
scientific
educational
When to use this quote
- laboratory research
- clinical trials
- field observations
- quality control
Key Concepts
probability
frequency
replication
Questions to Reflect On
- How many repetitions are needed for confidence?
- What defines “appropriate frequency”?
A Different Perspective
Rare events may be misinterpreted as proof without proper statistical context.
![“[Coining the phrase "test of significance"] Critical tests of this kind may be called tests of significance, and when such tests are available we may discover whether a second sample is or is not significantly different from the first.” quote by Ronald Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ddb/ronald-fisher-14852_available_coining-the-phrase-test-of-significance_46951.jpg)
![“[T]he appropriate form of address between man and man ought to be, not monsieur, sir, but fellow sufferer, compagnon de miseres.” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/be6/arthur-schopenhauer-226_addresses_t-he-appropriate-form-of-address-between_32897.jpg)
