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About this quote

What does it mean?
Even simple hypotheses should be most doubted because they are the ones most likely to be overlooked.
In plain terms
Simple ideas need the most skepticism as they can hide unnoticed.
What can you take from it?
Question basic assumptions carefully.

Where it applies

  • scientific research
  • problem solving

Putting it to work

  • test simple models rigorously
  • review assumptions

Questions to consider

  • When should simplicity be trusted?
  • How can we balance doubt with practicality?

Another view

Not all simple hypotheses are equally prone to error.

More from Henri Poincare

  1. Le savant digne de ce nom, le geometre surtout, eprouve en face de son ?uvre la meme impression que l'artiste; sa jouissance est aussi grande et de meme nature.

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  3. La pensee ne doit jamais se soumettre, ni a un dogme, ni a un parti, ni a une passion, ni a un interet, ni a une idee preconcue, ni a quoi que ce soit, si ce n…

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