Chapter 2, “Probability and Coincidence” (p. 62)
“
There surely is something to these terms, but too often they’re the result of minds intent on discovering meaning where there is only probability.
— John Allen Paulos
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "There surely is something to these terms, but too often they’re the result of minds intent on discovering meaning where there is only probability." in the context of "Chapter 2, “Probability and Coincidence” (p. 62)" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "John Allen Paulos" (Quotes, Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and its Consequences (1988): All page numbers from the 1990 trade paperback edition published by Vintage Books )
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
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About John Allen Paulos
John Allen Paulos (born July 4, 1945) is an American professor of mathematics at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is a prominent figure as a writer and speaker on mathematics and the importance of mathematical literacy. Paulos writes about many subjects, especially of the dangers of mathematical innumeracy; that is, the layperson's misconceptions about numbers, probability, and logic.
About John Allen Paulos
John Allen Paulos (born July 4, 1945) is an American professor of mathematics at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is a prominent figure as a writer and speaker on mathematics and the importance of mathematical literacy. Paulos writes about many subjects, especially of the dangers of mathematical innumeracy; that is, the layperson's misconceptions about numbers, probability, and logic.
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