A witty statesman said, you might prove anything by figures.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Statistics and data can be manipulated to support almost any argument.
- In plain terms
- You can use numbers to argue for whatever you want.
- What can you take from it?
- Be skeptical of claims backed only by selective data.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you spot misleading statistics?
- What makes data trustworthy?
Another view
Data is still the best tool for truth when used transparently.
More from Thomas Carlyle
The Public is an old woman. Let her maunder and mumble.
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