"I can prove anything by statistics except the truth"

This quote by George Canning talks to the power of data and how they can be used to manipulate the truth. Statistics can be used to make a point or show a point, but they can also be used to misshape the reality. Statistics can be used to make a point look more persuading than it actually is, or to make a point appearance less persuading than it in fact is. Stats can be used to make a point look more important than it actually is, or to make a point look lesser than it really is. Statistics can be used to make a point look more legitimate than it really is, or to make a point appearance less legitimate than it actually is. In short, data can be used to make a point look more or less true than it really is. This quote is a reminder that statistics can be used to control the truth, which it is very important to be familiar with this when analyzing stats.