Arbitrary Quote by Wassily Leontief
“We move from more or less plausible but really arbitrary assumptions, to elegantly demonstrated but irrelevant conclusions.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Input-Output Analysis, 1936
The quote critiques moving from shaky premises to elegant yet useless results, warning against style over substance.
In simple terms: Beware elegant conclusions that ignore real relevance.
Key Takeaway
Focus on meaningful foundations.
Themes
critical thinking
logic
relevance
analysis
Mood
skeptical
analytical
Type
cautionary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic research
- policy design
- business strategy
- data modeling
Key Concepts
economics
philosophy
methodology
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions are you overlooking?
- How can you test relevance early?
A Different Perspective
Elegant models can mislead if premises are flawed.
