“A theory is the more impressive, the greater the simplicity of its premises, the more diverse things it connects, and the wider its scope.”
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Source: Autobiographical Notes, 1949
About this quote
A powerful theory does more explanatory work with fewer starting assumptions. Its value grows when one coherent structure connects varied observations and remains useful across a broad domain.
When to use it
- A biologist favors one mechanism that explains several related traits over separate ad hoc stories.
- A software architect chooses a small set of rules that handles many workflows without special cases.
- A student compares theories by assumptions, explanatory reach, and the variety of facts each unifies.