"The laws of probability, so true in general, so fallacious in particular"
- Edward Gibbon
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This quote by Edward Gibbon is referring to the laws of possibility, which are typically accepted as being true. However, Gibbon is recommending that in particular cases, these laws can be deceptive and inaccurate. This is due to the fact that likelihood is based upon the presumption that all outcomes are similarly most likely, which is not constantly the case. For example, if you were to flip a coin, the possibility of it arriving on heads is 50%, but if the coin is weighted, the probability of it arriving on heads could be higher or lower than 50%. This highlights how the laws of likelihood can be fallacious in specific cases. In conclusion, Gibbon is recommending that while the laws of likelihood are usually true, they can be undependable in specific situations.
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