"Who was the first to be quoted as saying ""There are three types of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics""?"
Lies, damned lies, and statistics Lies, damned lies, and statistics "Lies, damned lies, and statistics" is a phrase describing the persuasive power of numbers, particularly the use of statistics to bolster weak arguments. It is also sometimes colloquially used to doubt statistics used to prove an opponent's point. The phrase was popularised in the United States by Mark Twain (among others), who attributed it to the British prime minister Benjamin Disraeli: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." However, the phrase is not found in any of Disraeli's works and the earliest known appearances were years after his death. Several other
Lies, damned lies, and statistics attributed to Eliza Gutch. The American Dialect Society list archives include numerous posts by Stephen Goranson that cite research into uses soon after the above. They include: The phrase has been used in a number of popular expositions, including: Lies, damned lies, and statistics "Lies, damned lies, and statistics" is a phrase describing the persuasive power of numbers, particularly the use of statistics to bolster weak arguments. It is also sometimes colloquially used to doubt statistics used to prove an opponent's point. The phrase was popularised in the United States by Mark Twain (among others), who attributed it to the