---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is clear that economics, if it is to…"
description: "\"It is clear that economics, if it is to be a science at all, must be a mathematical science.\" — William Stanley Jevons"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c66/william-stanley-jevons-10797_clear_it-is-clear-that-economics-if-it-is-to-b_2607195.jpg"
---

#  It is clear that economics, if it is to be a science at…

![“It is clear that economics, if it is to be a science at all, must be a mathematical science.” quote by William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c66/william-stanley-jevons-10797_clear_it-is-clear-that-economics-if-it-is-to-b_2607195.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c66/william-stanley-jevons-10797_clear_it-is-clear-that-economics-if-it-is-to-b_2607195.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c66/william-stanley-jevons-10797_clear_it-is-clear-that-economics-if-it-is-to-b_2607195.jpg)

> “It is clear that economics, if it is to be a science at all, must be a mathematical science.”

[William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Economics must be grounded in mathematics to achieve scientific rigor and predictive power.

**In simple terms:** Economics needs math to be scientific.

Key Takeaway

Apply quantitative methods to economic analysis.

Themes

economics science mathematics methodology

Mood

analytical critical

Type

academic philosophical

When to use this quote

- academic research
- policy analysis
- financial forecasting
- educational curricula

Key Concepts

Quantitative modeling theoretical foundations

Questions to Reflect On

- What aspects of economics resist formalization?
- How can qualitative insights complement quantitative models?

A Different Perspective

Overreliance on math can ignore human behavior nuances.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/)

## Related quotes

> [How thoroughly it is ingrained in mathematical science that every real advance goes hand in hand with the invention of sharper tools and simpler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/how-thoroughly-it-is-ingrained-in-mathematical-science-that-every/)

[David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/)

> [Mathematical science shows what is. It is the language of unseen relations between things. But to use and apply that language, we must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-lovelace/mathematical-science-shows-what-is-it-is-the-language-of-unseen/)

[Ada Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-lovelace/)

> [Many persons entertain a prejudice against mathematical language, arising out of a confusion between the ideas of a mathematical science and an exact science.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/many-persons-entertain-a-prejudice-against-mathematical-language/)

[William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/)

> [It is clear that Economics, if it is to be a science at all, must be a mathematical science ... simply because it deals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/it-is-clear-that-economics-if-it-is-to-be-a-science-at-all-must-be-a/)

[William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/)

> [Mathematics as an expression of the human mind reflects the active will, the contemplative reason, and the desire for aesthetic perfection. Its basic elements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-courant/mathematics-as-an-expression-of-the-human-mind-reflects-the-active-3/)

[Richard Courant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-courant/)

> [In mathematical science, more than in all others, it happens that truths which are at one period the most abstract, and apparently the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-babbage/in-mathematical-science-more-than-in-all-others-it-happens-that/)

[Charles Babbage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-babbage/)

> [Mathematical science is in my opinion an indivisible whole, an organism whose vitality is conditioned upon the connection of its parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/mathematical-science-is-in-my-opinion-an-indivisible-whole-an/)

[David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/)

> [Economics is not a science, in the sense that a policy can be repeatedly applied under similar conditions and will repeatedly produce similar results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-fenwick/economics-is-not-a-science-in-the-sense-that-a-policy-can-be/)

[Millicent Fenwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-fenwick/)

> [Economics is the science which studies human behaviour as a relationship between ends and scarce means which have alternative uses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-charles-robbins/economics-is-the-science-which-studies-human-behaviour-as-a/)

Lionel Charles Robbins

> [Contrary to what professional economists will typically tell you, economics is not a science. All economic theories have underlying political and ethical assumptions, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ha-joon-chang/contrary-to-what-professional-economists-will-typically-tell-you/)

[Ha-Joon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-joon-chang/)

> [What is economics? A science invented by the upper class in order to acquire the fruits of the labor of the underclass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/what-is-economics-a-science-invented-by-the-upper-class-in-order-to/)

[August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/)

> [Economics is not a science; it is a quasi-religion: part superstition, part mystique, part sentimentality. Bankers dream like other men, the only difference being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/economics-is-not-a-science-it-is-a-quasi-religion-part-superstition/)

[Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/)

> [Many of us like to think of financial economics as a science, but complex events like the financial crisis suggest that this conceit may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lo/many-of-us-like-to-think-of-financial-economics-as-a-science-but/)

[Andrew Lo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lo/)

> [“Recognizing that the boundaries of the market are ambiguous and cannot be determined in an objective way lets us realize that economics is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ha-joon-chang/recognizing-that-the-boundaries-of-the-market-are-ambiguous-and/)

[Ha-Joon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-joon-chang/)

> [“Economics is not a science and should not be there to advise policy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/economics-is-not-a-science-and-should-not-be-there-to-advise-policy/)

[Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/)

## More by William Stanley Jevons

> [All classes of society are trade unionists at heart, and differ chiefly in the boldness, ability, and secrecy with which they pursue their respective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/all-classes-of-society-are-trade-unionists-at-heart-and-differ/)

[William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/)

> [What capital I give for the spade merely replaces what the manufacturer had already invested in the expectation that the spade would be needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/what-capital-i-give-for-the-spade-merely-replaces-what-the/)

[William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/)

> [“The more refined and intellectual our needs become, the less they are capable of satiety.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/the-more-refined-and-intellectual-our-needs-become-the-less-they-are/)

[William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/)

> [The wind, as a direct motive power, is wholly inapplicable to a system of machine labour, for during a calm season the whole business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/the-wind-as-a-direct-motive-power-is-wholly-inapplicable-to-a-system/)

[William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/)

> [Economists can never be free of from difficulties unless they will distinguish between a theory and the application of a theory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/economists-can-never-be-free-of-from-difficulties-unless-they-will/)

[William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/)

> [It isrequisite from time to time to remind one generation of the experience which led a former generation to important legislative actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/it-isrequisite-from-time-to-time-to-remind-one-generation-of-the/)

[William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/)

> [Ina regular and constant employment the greatest result will always be gained by such a rate as allows a workman each day,or each week…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/ina-regular-and-constant-employment-the-greatest-result-will-always/)

[William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/)

> [By a commodity we shall understand any object, substance, action or service, which can afford pleasure or ward off pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/by-a-commodity-we-shall-understand-any-object-substance-action-or/)

[William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/)

> [A little experience is worth much argument; a few facts are better than any theory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/a-little-experience-is-worth-much-argument-a-few-facts-are-better/)

[William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/)

> [As there are so many who talk prose without knowing it, or, again, who syllogize without having the least idea what a syllogism is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/as-there-are-so-many-who-talk-prose-without-knowing-it-or-again-who/)

[William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/)

> [In any case I hold that there must arise a science of the development of economic forms and relations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/in-any-case-i-hold-that-there-must-arise-a-science-of-the-development/)

[William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/)

> [The point of equilibrium will be known by the criterion that an infinitely small amount of commodity exchanged in addition, at the same rate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/the-point-of-equilibrium-will-be-known-by-the-criterion-that-an/)

[William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/)

> [It is clear that Economics, if it is to be a science at all, must be a mathematical science ... simply because it deals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/it-is-clear-that-economics-if-it-is-to-be-a-science-at-all-must-be-a/)

[William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/)

> [I am convinced that it is impossible to expound the methods of induction in a sound manner, without resting them upon the theory of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/i-am-convinced-that-it-is-impossible-to-expound-the-methods-of/)

[William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/)

> [When quite young I can remember I had no thought or wish of surpassing others. I was rather taken with a liking of little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/when-quite-young-i-can-remember-i-had-no-thought-or-wish-of/)

[William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/)

[Explore all 63 William Stanley Jevons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/)

## More Clear quotes

> [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/)

[Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/)

[Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/)

> [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/)

[Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/)

> [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/)

[Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/)

> [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/)

[Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/)

> [I try to listen to all music with an open head, a clear head, try not to say just because I don't know it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/i-try-to-listen-to-all-music-with-an-open-head-a-clear-head-try-not/)

[Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/)

> [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/)

[Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/)

> [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/)

[John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/)

> [I've always made it clear that I do not believe that global government is either necessary or feasible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-always-made-it-clear-that-i-do-not-believe-that-global/)

[Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/)

> [The moment it begins to question itself, the mind becomes so clear that it starts working with itself rather than with the body's identification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/the-moment-it-begins-to-question-itself-the-mind-becomes-so-clear/)

[Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/)

> [Alec Wilkinson is a spare, clear, and lucid writer who works in stylistic simplicity with material that is not simple at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/alec-wilkinson-is-a-spare-clear-and-lucid-writer-who-works-in/)

[Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/)

> [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/)

[James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/)

Browse all 7,410 Clear quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It is clear that economics, if it is to be a science at all, must be a mathematical science.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Stanley Jevons"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/it-is-clear-that-economics-if-it-is-to-be-a-science-at-all-must-be-a-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Clear"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/it-is-clear-that-economics-if-it-is-to-be-a-science-at-all-must-be-a-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c66/william-stanley-jevons-10797_clear_it-is-clear-that-economics-if-it-is-to-b_2607195.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c66/william-stanley-jevons-10797_clear_it-is-clear-that-economics-if-it-is-to-b_2607195.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c66/william-stanley-jevons-10797_clear_it-is-clear-that-economics-if-it-is-to-b_2607195.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is clear that economics, if it is to be a science at all, must be a mathematical science.” — William Stanley Jevons",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "William Stanley Jevons",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It is clear that economics, if...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/it-is-clear-that-economics-if-it-is-to-be-a-science-at-all-must-be-a-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/it-is-clear-that-economics-if-it-is-to-be-a-science-at-all-must-be-a-2/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
