31:
218:, page 74 November 26, 1885: "A well-known lawyer, now a judge, once grouped witnesses into three classes: simple liars, damned liars, and experts. He did not mean that the expert uttered things which he knew to be untrue, but that by the emphasis which he laid on certain statements, and by what has been defined as a highly cultivated faculty of evasion, the effect was actually worse than if he had."
145:
on June 8, 1891, published June 13, 1891, p. 93(–94): NATIONAL PENSIONS London, 8 June 1891 "Sir, —It has been wittily remarked that there are three kinds of falsehood: the first is a 'fib,' the second is a downright lie, and the third and most aggravated is statistics. It is on statistics and
210:
1868 ff.; 1882–4 President of the
Statistical Society): "An old jest runs to the effect that there are three degrees of comparison among liars. There are liars, there are outrageous liars, and there are scientific experts. This has lately been adapted to throw dirt upon statistics. There are three
654:
ADDRESSES, PAPERS AND DISCUSSIONS IN THE SECTION ON ... SURGERY AND ANATOMY AT THE Forty-Fifth Annual
Meeting OF THE American Medical Association, ... HELD AT ... SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., JUNE 5–8, 1894., CHICAGO: PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION,
491:
Gaither's
Dictionary of Scientific Quotations: A Collection of Approximately 27,000 Quotations Pertaining to Archaeology, Architecture, Astronomy, Biology, Botany, Chemistry, Cosmology, Darwinism, Engineering, Geology, Mathematics, Medicine, Nature, Nursing, Paleontology, Philosophy, Physics
135:
The phrase is quoted frequently in 1895, but here is a 1894 example: "His less enthusiastic neighbor thinks of the proverbial kinds of falsehoods, “lies, damned lies, and statistics,” and replies: “Reports of large numbers of cases subjected to operation seldom fail to beget a suspicion of
92:
in 1907. "Figures often beguile me," Twain wrote, "particularly when I have the arranging of them myself; in which case the remark attributed to
Disraeli would often apply with justice and force: 'There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.'"
190:
was held
Wednesday night to protest against certain dismissals from one of the quarries ...." He observed that the speeches of the Bishops on the disestablishment question reminded him that there were three degrees of untruth—a fib, a lie, and statistics
256:
and confronted with statistical numbers he believed to be manufactured, this French physiologist stated: "Thus the alteration of the truth which is already manifesting itself in the progressive form of lying and perjury, offers us, in the
72:. However, the phrase is not found in any of Disraeli's works and the earliest known appearances were years after his death. Several other people have been listed as originators of the quote, and it is often attributed to Twain himself.
261:, the statistics." In White's opinion, the world had a need of this phrase, many people "would have been proud" to coin it, and the origins are now obscured, as the phrase passed "from wit to wit". White is referring to the work of
204:
the paper was previously read at a meeting of the
Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science at Hobart in January 1892. Robert Giffen (1837–1910, Walter Bagehot's assistant editor at
352:
1014:
775:, p. 15, Ainsi l'altération de la vérité qui se manifeste déjà sous la forme progressive du mensonge et du parjure, nous offre-t-elle, au superlatif, la statistique.
265:, however, Delaunay's text, while using the phrase, does not explicitly attribute it to Magendie. John Bibby and David R. Bellhouse also mention Magendie's authorship.
128:
as attributing the phrase to a "wise statesman", but he may have been referring to a future statesman rather than a past one. The phrase has also been attributed to
624:
117:
1153:
179:"Sir Charles Dilke was saying the other day that false statements might be arranged according to their degree under three heads, fibs, lies, and statistics."
156:
questioner, signing as "St
Swithin", asked for the originator of the phrase, indicating common usage even at that date. The pseudonym has been attributed to
139:
A Dictionary of
English Folklore claims that the earliest instance resembling the phrase found in print is a letter written in the British newspaper
525:
129:
186:
The Derby
Mercury (Derby, England), October 21, 1891; Issue 9223 "Sir Charles Dilke and the Bishops" "A mass meeting of the slate quarry-men of
1064:
1037:
598:
1178:
1146:
1122:
312:
653:
500:
406:
384:
330:
413:
There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics. attributed to
Disraeli in Mark Twain Autobiography (1924) vol. 1;
1056:
Quotes, Damned Quotes, And-: An Anthology of Sayings, Epithets, and Witticisms - Several of Them Something to Do with Statistics
200:
in 1892, was a variation on a phrase about three types of unreliable witnesses, a liar, a damned liar, and an expert from the
171:
82:
319:
Lies, Damned Lies, and Drug War Statistics: A Critical Analysis of Claims Made by the Office of National Drug Control Policy
146:
on the absence of statistics that the advocate of national pensions relies ..." Later, in October 1891, as a query in
30:
1234:
1139:
615:
167:
list archives include numerous posts by Stephen Goranson that cite research into uses soon after the above. They include:
229:, noted "Talked politics, scandal, and the three classes of witnesses—liars, d—d liars, and experts." Quoted in 1900 in
348:, the form of cancer with which he was diagnosed in 1982, has a "median survival time of eight months" is misleading.
1244:
1184:
516:
241:
211:
degrees of comparison, it is said, in lying. There are lies, there are outrageous lies, and there are statistics."
113:
121:
1229:
164:
756:
677:
390:
345:
230:
105:
822:
301:
141:
1023:
1191:
1054:
1008:
463:
174:(1843–1911) is reported twice in October 1891 to have used the phrase, without attributing it to others:
88:
991:[There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics. Etymology of the aphorism].
281:
1162:
245:
101:
1239:
712:
226:
109:
975:
967:
932:
916:
737:
665:
567:
542:
58:
61:. It is also sometimes colloquially used to doubt statistics used to prove an opponent's point.
839:
489:
17:
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689:
534:
394:
201:
398:
1114:
285:
298:
Damned Lies and Statistics: Untangling Numbers from the Media, Politicians, and Activists
521:"Parliamentary representation in England illustrated by the elections of 1892 and 1895"
97:
1000:
733:
644:
SOME SURGICAL SINS. ADDRESS OF CHAIRMAN OF THE SECTION. BY JOHN B. ROBERTS, A.M., M.D.
563:
1223:
1208:
979:
357:
273:
The phrase has been used in the title of a number of popular expositions, including:
262:
249:
206:
197:
760:
962:
945:
912:
988:
1027:
989:"Существуют три вида обмана: ложь, наглая ложь и статистика. Этимология афоризма"
458:
1024:"Les doctrines médicales au début du XIXe siècle. Louis et la méthode numérique"
278:
Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics: The Manipulation of Public Opinion in America
258:
157:
669:
454:
322:
187:
65:
50:
35:
971:
928:
920:
848:
294:(1985), by John Bibby – an attempt to untangle the history of this quotation.
34:
The origin of the phrase "Lies, damned lies, and statistics" is unclear, but
304:
153:
871:"The West Wing: Season 1, Episode 21 : Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics"
856:
120:, who used the phrase in 1895 and two years later became president of the
54:
870:
1131:
936:
896:
546:
344:
begins by repeating this quote. Gould explains how the statistic that
222:
590:
Anglo-Norman Studies XIX: Proceedings of the Battle Conference, 1996
538:
520:
253:
29:
1108:
96:
Alternative attributions include, among many others (for example
68:(among others), who attributed it to the British prime minister
1135:
292:
Quotes, Damned Quotes ..... some of them to do with statistics
248:(1783–1855). According to White, while arguing against using
763:(2 vols), London: Macmillan 1900, Vol. I, pp. 255, 257–258.
495:, Springer Science & Business Media, p. 2399,
321:(2014), by Matthew B. Robinson & Renee G. Scherlen
425:
423:
421:
488:Gaither, Carl C.; Cavazos-Gaither, Alma E. (2012),
64:The phrase was popularized in the United States by
1110:Statistics Done Wrong: The Woefully Complete Guide
614:
1013:: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of September 2024 (
351:"Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics" is the title of
57:, "one of the best, and best-known" critiques of
49:" is a phrase describing the persuasive power of
1147:
225:meeting held on 5 December 1885, recorded by
8:
761:The Life and Letters of Thomas Henry Huxley
593:. Boydell & Brewer Ltd. pp. 307–.
235:The Life and Letters of Thomas Henry Huxley
1154:
1140:
1132:
1095:(3). Statistical Society of Canada: 43–45.
840:10.1001/virtualmentor.2013.15.1.mnar1-1301
558:
556:
378:
376:
374:
987:Деружинский, Григорий Викторович (2015).
961:
838:
808:
784:
526:Journal of the Royal Statistical Society
441:
130:Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
616:"How to succeed by stating the obvious"
370:
27:Phrase criticising misuse of statistics
1032:(in French). Oxford University Press.
1006:
693:2 (6) (1892), 209–238, first paragraph
125:
796:
772:
429:
116:, and British politician and scholar
80:Mark Twain popularized the saying in
7:
1179:Correlation does not imply causation
399:10.1093/acref/9780199237173.001.0001
946:"Truth, Damn Truth, and Statistics"
734:"Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics"
564:"Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics"
181:The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post
108:English journalist and politician
25:
1198:Lies, damned lies, and statistics
1001:10.34023/2313-6383-2015-0-6-85-88
47:Lies, damned lies, and statistics
674:A Dictionary of English Folklore
587:Christopher Harper-Bill (1997).
459:"Chapters from My Autobiography"
950:Journal of Statistics Education
944:Velleman, Paul F. (July 2008).
627:from the original on 2022-06-14
386:Oxford Dictionary of Quotations
383:Elizabeth Knowles, ed. (2009).
18:Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics
1082:"Un jour, ce fut mon tour ..."
1029:Science, Medicine, and History
963:10.1080/10691898.2008.11889565
913:10.1080/00031305.1964.10482634
897:"Unkind Cuts at Statisticians"
895:White, Colin (December 1964).
823:"The Median Isn't the Message"
353:episode 21 in the first season
83:Chapters from My Autobiography
1:
1107:Reinhart, Alex (March 2015).
550:. The quote is on p. 87.
1080:Bellhouse, David R. (1987).
1026:. In Underwood, E.A. (ed.).
338:The Median Isn't the Message
214:That phrase can be found in
821:Gould, S. J. (2013-01-01).
172:Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke
1261:
1185:How to Lie with Statistics
183:, Monday, October 19, 1891
114:Jervoise Athelstane Baines
1169:
995:(in Russian) (6): 85–88.
901:The American Statistician
713:"Nature November 26 1885"
122:Royal Statistical Society
1059:. J. Bibby. p. 30.
196:The phrase, as noted by
165:American Dialect Society
124:. Courtney is quoted by
1022:Delaunay, Paul (1953).
702:1892 Jan talk, June pub
678:Oxford University Press
391:Oxford University Press
346:peritoneal mesothelioma
110:Henry Du Pré Labouchère
1003:(inactive 2024-09-12).
302:University of Delaware
282:W. W. Norton & Co.
280:, by Michael Wheeler (
244:traces the origins to
136:unjustifiable risk.”"
42:
1192:Impression management
827:AMA Journal of Ethics
464:North American Review
89:North American Review
33:
1235:Misuse of statistics
1163:Misuse of statistics
1053:Bibby, John (1986).
102:Arthur James Balfour
227:Thomas Henry Huxley
118:Leonard H. Courtney
86:, published in the
993:Вопросы статистики
738:University of York
666:Jacqueline Simpson
568:University of York
59:applied statistics
43:
1245:Benjamin Disraeli
1217:
1216:
1174:Circular analysis
1066:978-0-946544-01-1
1039:978-0-598-60762-1
672:(Editor) (2003).
600:978-0-85115-707-8
469:Project Gutenberg
342:Stephen Jay Gould
246:François Magendie
149:Notes and Queries
142:National Observer
70:Benjamin Disraeli
40:Benjamin Disraeli
38:attributed it to
16:(Redirected from
1252:
1204:Misleading graph
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690:Economic Journal
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288:paperback 1978).
221:A minute of the
202:Economic Journal
53:to bolster weak
21:
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1255:
1254:
1253:
1251:
1250:
1249:
1230:English phrases
1220:
1219:
1218:
1213:
1165:
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1125:
1117:. p. 176.
1115:No Starch Press
1106:
1103:
1101:Further reading
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757:Huxley, Leonard
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621:The Independent
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539:10.2307/2979754
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1124:978-1593276201
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809:Bellhouse 1987
801:
789:
787:, p. 326.
777:
765:
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725:
704:
695:
681:
658:
646:
637:
623:. 1998-03-28.
606:
599:
579:
552:
519:(March 1896),
508:
501:
480:
457:(1906-09-07).
446:
434:
417:
407:
389:(7 ed.).
369:
368:
366:
363:
334:
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316:
313:978-0520219786
295:
289:
270:
267:
239:
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231:Leonard Huxley
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98:Walter Bagehot
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26:
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1209:Sampling bias
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832:
828:
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817:
814:
811:, p. 45.
810:
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799:, p. 30.
798:
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786:
785:Delaunay 1953
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533:(1): 38–124,
532:
528:
527:
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518:
517:Baines, J. A.
512:
509:
504:
502:9781461411147
498:
494:
493:
484:
481:
470:
466:
465:
460:
456:
450:
447:
443:
442:Velleman 2008
438:
435:
432:, p. 15.
431:
426:
424:
422:
418:
414:
410:
408:9780199237173
404:
400:
396:
392:
388:
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379:
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371:
364:
362:
361:
359:
358:The West Wing
355:of NBC drama
354:
349:
347:
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332:
331:9781438448381
328:
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263:Paul Delaunay
260:
255:
251:
250:blood-letting
247:
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224:
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209:
208:
207:The Economist
203:
199:
198:Robert Giffen
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126:Baines (1896)
123:
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112:(1831–1912),
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19:
1197:
1183:
1109:
1092:
1088:
1070:. Retrieved
1055:
1043:. Retrieved
1028:
1009:cite journal
992:
953:
949:
907:(5): 15–17.
904:
900:
875:. Retrieved
865:
833:(1): 77–81.
830:
826:
816:
804:
792:
780:
768:
752:
741:. Retrieved
728:
717:. Retrieved
707:
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684:
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649:
640:
629:. Retrieved
620:
609:
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582:
571:. Retrieved
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472:. Retrieved
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154:pseudonymous
147:
140:
138:
134:
95:
87:
81:
79:
63:
46:
44:
307:Joel Best (
305:sociologist
300:(2001), by
259:superlative
242:Colin White
191:(Laughter)"
158:Eliza Gutch
1240:Mark Twain
1224:Categories
1072:2024-06-30
1045:2024-07-07
877:2014-01-31
873:. IMDb.com
797:Bibby 1986
773:White 1964
743:2011-05-14
719:2015-07-07
670:Steve Roud
668:(Editor),
631:2017-02-22
573:2007-05-23
474:2007-05-23
455:Mark Twain
430:White 1964
365:References
336:The essay
323:SUNY Press
66:Mark Twain
51:statistics
36:Mark Twain
980:117611755
972:1069-1898
956:(2): 97.
929:0003-1305
921:1537-2731
849:2376-6980
252:to treat
188:Festiniog
55:arguments
857:23356812
625:Archived
937:2682462
889:Sources
547:2979754
106:radical
104:), the
76:History
1188:(1954)
1121:
1089:Liason
1063:
1036:
978:
970:
935:
927:
919:
855:
847:
715:. 1869
597:
545:
499:
405:
329:
311:
284:1976;
223:X Club
216:Nature
152:, the
1085:(PDF)
976:S2CID
968:eISSN
933:JSTOR
917:eISSN
655:1894.
543:JSTOR
254:fever
1119:ISBN
1061:ISBN
1034:ISBN
1015:link
925:ISSN
853:PMID
845:ISSN
595:ISBN
497:ISBN
403:ISBN
327:ISBN
309:ISBN
286:Dell
269:Uses
163:The
100:and
997:doi
958:doi
909:doi
835:doi
535:doi
492:...
395:doi
340:by
233:'s
1226::
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