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About this quote

What does it mean?
An odd piece of evidence, like a trout in milk, can strongly suggest something unusual.
In plain terms
A strange clue can be very convincing.
What can you take from it?
Pay attention to unexpected details.

Where it applies

  • investigating a crime
  • solving a puzzle

Putting it to work

  • note oddities
  • follow unusual leads

Questions to consider

  • What odd clues have you noticed?
  • How do you differentiate coincidence from significance?

Another view

A single oddity may be a coincidence rather than proof.

More from Henry David Thoreau

  1. Fire is the most tolerable third party.

    Permalink to quote #38
  2. Nature is full of genius, full of the divinity; so that not a snowflake escapes its fashioning hand.

    Permalink to quote #40
  3. Every poet has trembled on the verge of science.

    Permalink to quote #37

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