Quotes by George Box
A man in daily muddy contact with field experiments could not be expected to have much faith in any direct assumption of independently distributed normal errors.
statistical methods appropriate for iterative inquiry can help the investigator not only to answer questions originally asked but also to catalyze the posing of new questions. Thus greatly assisting the subject matter specialist's attempt to understand the phenomenon under study.
Statistics is, or should be, about scientific investigation and how to do it better, but many statisticians believe it is a branch of mathematics.
Since all models are wrong the scientist cannot obtain a "correct" one by excessive elaboration. On the contrary following William of Occam he should seek an economical description of natural phenomena. Just as the ability to devise simple but evocative models is the signature of the great scientist so overelaboration and overparameterization is often the mark of mediocrity.
The benefits provided by worker participation are twofold. Quality is improved because of the finding and fixing of a very large number of problems, but also, and perhaps equally important, moral is improved.
The old-fashioned idea of a good manager is one who is supposed to know all the answers, can solve every problem himself, and can give appropriate orders to his subordinates to carry out his plans... A good modern manager is like a good coach who leads and encourages his team in never-ending quality improvement.
Management must provide employees with tools that will enable them to do their jobs better, and with encouragement to use these tools. In particular, they must collect data.
Acceleration of knowledge generation also emphasizes the need for life long education. The trained teacher, scientist or engineer can no longer regard what they have learned at the university as supplying their needs for the rest of their lives.