Francis Galton - Collected Quotes

"A visual image is the most perfect form of mental representation wherever the shape, position, and relations of objects in space are concerned. It is of importance in every handicraft and profession where design is required." (Francis Galton, "Mental Imagery" [in "Inquiries into Human Faculty and Development"] 1883)

"The object of statistical science is to discover methods of condensing information concerning large groups of allied facts into brief and compendious expressions suitable for discussion. The possibility of doing this is based on the constancy and continuity with which objects of the same species are found to vary." (Sir Francis Galton, "Inquiries into Human Faculty and Its Development, Statistical Methods", 1883) 

"It is always well to retain a clear geometric view of the facts when we are dealing with statistical problems, which abound with dangerous pitfalls, easily overlooked by the unwary, while they are cantering gaily along upon their arithmetic." (Sir Francis Galton, "Natural Inheritance", 1889)

"It is difficult to understand why statisticians commonly limit their inquiries to Averages, and do not revel in more comprehensive views. […] An Average is but a solitary fact, whereas if a single other fact be added to it, an entire Normal Scheme, which nearly corresponds to the observed one, starts potentially into existence. Some people hate the very name of statistics, but I find them full of beauty and interest. Whenever they are not brutalised, but delicately handled by the higher methods, and are warily interpreted, their power of dealing with complicated phenomena is extraordinary. They are the only tools by which an opening can be cut through the formidable thicket of difficulties that bars the path of those who pursue the Science of man." (Sir Francis Galton, "Natural Inheritance", 1889)

"It is difficult to understand why statisticians commonly limit their inquiries to Averages, and do not revel in more comprehensive views. Their souls seem as dull to the charm of variety as that of the native of one of our flat English counties, whose retrospect of Switzerland was that, if its mountains could be thrown into its lakes, two nuisances would be got rid of at once. An Average is but a solitary fact, whereas if a single other fact be added to it, an entire Normal Scheme, which nearly corresponds to the observed one, starts potentially into existence." (Sir Francis Galton, "Natural Inheritance", 1889)

"[Statistics] are the only tools by which an opening can be cut through the formidable thicket of difficulties that bars the path of those who pursue the Science of man." (Sir Francis Galton, "Natural Inheritance", 1889)

"Every statistician wants now and then to test the practical value of some theoretical process, it may be of smoothing, or of interpola- tion, or of obtaining a measure of variability, or of making some particular deduction or inference." (Francis Galton, Nature vol. 42, [letter] 1890)

"It is now beginning to be generally understood, even by merely practical statisticians, that there is truth in the theory that all variability is much the same kind." (Francis Galton, "Kinship and Correlation", North American Review Vol. 150 (11), 1890)

"Reflection soon made it clear to me that not only were the two new problems identical in principle with the old one of kinship which I had already solved, but that all three of them were no more than special cases of a much more general problem - namely, that of Correlation." (Francis Galton,"Kinship and Correlation", 1890) 

"It had appeared from observation, and it was fully confirmed by this theory, that such a thing existed as an 'Index of Correlation', that is to say, a fraction, now commonly written T, that connects with close approximation every value of the deviation on the part of the subject, with the average of all the associated deviations of the Relative [...]" (Francis Galton, "Memories of My Life", 1908)

"[Statistics are] the only tools by which an opening can be cut through the formidable thicket of difficulties that bars the path of those who pursue the Science of Man." (Sir Ronald Galton)

More quotes from the author at quotablemath.blogspot.com.