Cautionary Tale

A cautionary tale is a story, example, or real-life event that serves as a warning, illustrating the negative consequences of certain actions, decisions, or behaviors.

📚 In literature:

A cautionary tale typically follows a character who ignores advice or behaves recklessly and suffers a downfall—intended to teach a moral lesson.

🧬 In science or medicine:

A cautionary tale refers to a case, study, or trend that highlights:

Flawed methodology

Overinterpretation of data

Premature clinical translation

Ethical lapses

Or failures in replication

🔬 Example: A promising molecular therapy that failed in clinical trials due to overhyped preclinical data becomes a cautionary tale for future translational research.

In short: A cautionary tale reminds others what not to do, so history doesn’t repeat itself.