If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts.

Generally, the theories we believe we call facts, and the facts we disbelieve we call theories

An enthusiastic philosopher, of whose name we are not informed, had constructed a very satisfactory theory on some subject or other, and was not a little proud of it. "But the facts, my dear fellow," said his friend, "the facts do not agree with your theory."—"Don't they?" replied the philosopher, shrugging his shoulders, "then, tant pis pour les faits;"—so much the worse for the facts!

Assessing is theory, facts, and art form,

We want the facts to fit the preconceptions. When they don't it is easier to ignore the facts than to change the preconceptions.

Facts do not 'speak for themselves', they are read in the light of theory