Spurious Correlation Quotes

The invalid assumption that correlation implies cause is probably among the two or three most serious and common errors of human reasoning.

Correlation doesn’t imply causation, but it does waggle its eyebrows suggestively and gesture furtively while mouthing ‘look over there.’

But to measure cause and effect... you must ensure that a simple correlation, however tempting it may be, is not mistaken for a cause. In the 1990s the stork population of Germany increased and the German at-home birth rate rose as well. Shall we credit storks for airlifting the babies?

One of the first things taught in introductory statistics textbooks is that correlation is not causation. It is also one of the first things forgotten.

I'm very familiar with how people can confuse correlation with causation.

Don't confuse correlation and causation. Almost all great records eventually dwindle.

With a decrease in the number of pirates, there has been an increase in global warming over the same period. Therefore, global warming is caused by a lack of pirates. Even more compelling: Somalia has the highest number of Pirates AND the lowest Carbon emissions of any country. Coincidence?

It doesn't take many observations to think you've spotted a trend, and it's probably not a trend at all.

When actions are followed by events that are not causally related to the prior acts, people often erroneously perceive contingencies that do not, in fact, exist

Correlations are not explanations and besides, they can be as spurious as the high correlation in Finland between foxes killed and divorces.