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Michael J. Moroney
(1918 - 1990)
English statistician who is most widely remembered because of his book, Facts From Figures (1951), which not only became an immediate best-seller, but was revised, had many reprints, and was translated into nine languages. He joined Unilever in 1954, and improved statistical methods throughout the far-flung empire of companies.
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Science Quotes by Michael J. Moroney (7 quotes)
A statistical analysis, properly conducted, is a delicate dissection of uncertainties, a surgery of suppositions.
— Michael J. Moroney
In Facts from Figures (1951), 3.
For the most part, statistics is a method of investigation that is used when other methods are of no avail; it is often a last resort and a forlorn hope.
— Michael J. Moroney
In Facts from Figures (1951), 3.
Historically, Statistics is no more than State Arithmetic, a system of computation by which differences between individuals are eliminated by the taking of an average. It has been used—indeed, still is used—to enable rulers to know just how far they may safely go in picking the pockets of their subjects.
— Michael J. Moroney
In Facts from Figures (1951), 1.
If you are young, then I say: Learn something about statistics as soon as you can. Don’t dismiss it through ignorance or because it calls for thought. … If you are older and already crowned with the laurels of success, see to it that those under your wing who look to you for advice are encouraged to look into this subject. In this way you will show that your arteries are not yet hardened, and you will be able to reap the benefits without doing overmuch work yourself. Whoever you are, if your work calls for the interpretation of data, you may be able to do without statistics, but you won’t do as well.
— Michael J. Moroney
In Facts from Figures (1951), 463.
In former times, … when ships buffeted by storms threw a portion of their cargo overboard, it was recognized that those whose goods were sacrificed had a claim in equity to indemnification at the expense of those whose goods were safely delivered. The value of the lost goods was paid for by agreement between all those whose merchandise had been in the same ship. This sea damage to cargo in transit was known as “havaria” and the word came naturally to be applied to the compensation money which each individual was called upon to pay. From this Latin word derives our modern word average.
— Michael J. Moroney
In 'On the Average', Facts From Figures (1951), Chap. 4, 34.
The words figure and fictitious both derive from the same Latin root, fingere. Beware!
— Michael J. Moroney
In Facts from Figures (1951), 56.
There is more than a germ of truth in the suggestion that, in a society where statisticians thrive, liberty and individuality are likely to be emasculated.
— Michael J. Moroney
In Facts From Figures (1951), 1
In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.
(1987) -- 
