Source of quote attributed to Florence Nightingale: To understand God's thoughts we must study statistics

score:27

The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations has the following citation for that quote:

Scan of Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, reading: "Florence Nightingale 1820-1910 4 To understand God's thoughts we must study statistics, for these are the measure of his purpose. Attr. See K. Pearson, Life...of Francis Galton, vol.II, ch.xiii, sect.i"

(apologies for the limited quality of the scan. I'm using my hand-held scanner.)

As their source, they cite The Life, Letters and Labours of Francis Galton by By Karl Pearson (p415):

Interestingly, unless he is quoting from a source that he does not cite (such as a letter from Florence Nightingale to Francis Galton), it appears that Karl Pearson is putting those words into Florence Nightingale's mouth.

If that is, in fact, the case then it appears the source of the quote is Karl Pearson rather than Florence Nightingale!

sempaiscuba 77173

📝 Why didn't the Wehrmacht pull back to a short frontline in 1945?
📝 Why did Kabila discard the name and flag of Zaire?
📝 When was the last bull & bear fight in California?
📝 Is there a Soviet equivalent to foundational Cold War documents such as the Long Telegram and NSC-68?
📝 Was any stimulant used in wars before WW2 that gave a significant advantage to soldiers?
📝 When did Josef Wissarionowitsch become "sexy" Stalin?
📝 How and why did Aleksotas became part of the Russian Empire in 1864?
📝 Holders of what offices are usually used to inaugurate the new head of state in various countries?
📝 Most significant Congressional Leaders in US History?
📝 Exactly how much of what did General Benjamin Butler seize from the Netherlands Consulate in New Orleans on May 10th, 1862?
📝 Was the money requested by the French for the XYZ affair really a bribe?
📝 Are there ways to measure "how much power did "Russia" lose when the Soviet Union broke up?"
📝 How was the Spanish Armada coordinated?
📝 Has ramming ever been considered a viable tanking tactic?
📝 Why did Stalin deem Quantum Mechanics 'counter-revolutionary'?
📝 How well did American bombers fight enemy fighters in World War II?
📝 Why does the Central Treaty Organization include the word "central"?
📝 What stood behind Maria Theresa's forestry policy?
📝 Is there actual debate over which country (Brazil or Portugal) is the successor state to the original Portugal?
📝 Why could China keep most of the lands it conquered after 17th century but European powers could not?
📝 How did Swiss neutrality affect WW2?
📝 What did publicani markings on slaves sold out of the empire look like?
📝 When did the First Barbary War start?
📝 What's the origin of Crespi plates?
📝 Did the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo intend for Mexicans to live in the USA but under Mexican law?
📝 Why did Hitler split army group south for the 1942 summer offensive?
📝 John the Fearless: John I or John II? Can the French and the English agree?
📝 Why did the USSR have two sources of currency?
📝 How long did it take to build earth dikes with low-tech tools?
📝 Need help identifying 2 old coins? Struck coins, one with two standing human figures facing each other

Source: stackoverflow.com

Travel Tips

Source of quote attributed to Florence Nightingale: To understand God's thoughts we must study statistics

More post

Search Posts

Related post