Generalizations Quotes

“Generalization is a natural human mental process, and many generalizations are true—in average. What often does promote evil behavior is the lazy, nasty habit of believing that generalizations have anything at all to do with individuals.”

“Generally, there is a lot of truth value in stepping back, observing, then logically generalizing the extremes of what you see.”

“What has she done to deserve such scorn?' I said. He had the grace to look uncomfortable as he answered. 'Not her in particular, miss,' he said, 'Just her sort. People like her in general, I mean.''Oh Harry,' I said, 'there is no such thing as people in general. Everyone is someone very particular.”

“All generalizations are false, including this one.”

“There is an old saying, or should be, that it is a wise economist who recognizes the scope of his own generalizations.”

“Any general statement is like a cheque drawn on a bank. Its value depends on what is there to meet it.”

“As soon as they leave, Leon says to me: "I disagree, sir. There are people who aren't insane, and I'm one of them. People who generalize are mentally ill.”

“In displaying the psychology of your characters, minute particulars are essential. God save us from vague generalizations!", May 10, 1886)”

“The rich are all alike, to revise Tolstoy’s famous words, but the poor are poor in their own particular ways. Any reasonably intelligent reader could blow that generalization apart in the time it takes to write it. But as with most generalizations, a truth lies behind it. Ultimately, what binds the rich together is that they have more money, lots more. For one reason or another, the poor don’t have enough of it. But poverty doesn’t bind the poor together as much as wealth and the need to protect it bind the rich. If it did, we would hear the rattle of tumbrels in the streets. One hears mutterings, but the chains have not yet been shed.”

“Crude classifications and false generalizations are the curse of organized life.”