"It is now proved beyond doubt that smoking is one of the leading causes of statistics"

Fletcher Knebel’s wry observation, “It is now proved beyond doubt that smoking is one of the leading causes of statistics,” delivers a clever satirical punch. At first glance, it seems to comment directly on the link between smoking and adverse health outcomes. Yet the real target of Knebel’s humor lies in society’s obsession with statistical evidence and the sometimes-blurred line between meaningful data and the act of collecting or using data itself.

His playful wording suggests that the proliferation of statistics, charts, studies, percentages, about smoking may sometimes become more prominent in public discourse than the actual harms caused by smoking. This conflation points to the broader phenomenon where activities or dangers are almost defined by the massive statistical apparatus erected to measure, warn about, or analyze them. Rather than saying smoking causes disease, Knebel highlights how it sometimes seems as though the main consequence of smoking is the avalanche of statistical data it generates, perhaps even distracting from real-world action and personal stories.

Furthermore, Knebel invites skepticism about how statistics are marshaled in arguments, sometimes selectively, sometimes in overwhelming quantities, occasionally with conflicting results. The underlying irony is that the quantification of hazards, while essential, can take on a life of its own. It raises the question of whether people become so preoccupied with numbers, surveys, and risk ratios that the actual lived experience becomes secondary. This can foster an attitude in which the original, urgent point, public health dangers, is diffused in endless discussions about percentages and probabilities.

Ultimately, Knebel’s quip calls for balance. He underscores the value of skepticism and critical thinking when presented with statistics. It’s a reminder to look beyond numerical abstractions to the tangible realities they are supposed to represent, ensuring that our responses address concrete harms and not just the endless production of data.