In the commentary following this remarkable piece of prognostic
research a famous Danish joke is quoted: "It is difficult to prophesy --
especially when the future is involved." The saying, which has been
popular in Denmark since the 1950s, was attributed to Niels Bohr (1885-
1962). He may well have used it. Most Danes, however, ascribe it to his
contemporary Robert Storm-Petersen, known as 'Storm P.' (comedian,
cartoonist, painter, writer, 1882-1949).
In actual fact it is not a joke at tall but a slip of the tongue,
committed by an anonymous member of the Danish parliament in the late
1930s and recollected by a fellow politician (K. K. Steincke, 1880-1963,
known as the father of modern welfare legislation)in his 1948 memoirs.
At least this is what I have been able dig up by consulting various
domestic sources of information.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests:
No competing interests
01 March 2008
Jørgen Hilden
Emer. assoc. prof.
University of Copenhagen, Biostatistics, P.O.Box 2099, DK-1014 Copenhagen K, Denmark
Rapid Response:
Niels Bohr wasn't the first
In the commentary following this remarkable piece of prognostic research a famous Danish joke is quoted: "It is difficult to prophesy -- especially when the future is involved." The saying, which has been popular in Denmark since the 1950s, was attributed to Niels Bohr (1885- 1962). He may well have used it. Most Danes, however, ascribe it to his contemporary Robert Storm-Petersen, known as 'Storm P.' (comedian, cartoonist, painter, writer, 1882-1949).
In actual fact it is not a joke at tall but a slip of the tongue, committed by an anonymous member of the Danish parliament in the late 1930s and recollected by a fellow politician (K. K. Steincke, 1880-1963, known as the father of modern welfare legislation)in his 1948 memoirs.
At least this is what I have been able dig up by consulting various domestic sources of information.
Competing interests: None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests