The complaint is frequently heard that people want “facts”, not “theories”. The complaint may be justified in protest against theories which have no basis in fact, but usually it arises from a misunderstanding of the true relationships of facts and theories. Theories without facts may be barren, but facts without theories are meaningless. It is only “theory” — i.e., a body of principles — which enables us to approach the bewildering complexity and chaos of fact, select the facts significant for our purposes, and interpret the significance.

Kenneth Ewart Boulding (1910-1993) American economist, educator, poet, philosopher

Economic Analysis (1941)