Abstract
A classical inequality giving lower bounds for fluctuations about ordered states is derived. The inequality, analogous to a quantum result due to Bogoliubov, is established by a purely classical argument which makes explicit the nature of the surface boundary conditions required, a point which is rather obscure in the quantum derivations. As in the quantum case the inequality is useful in excluding certain kinds of phase transitions in one‐ and two‐dimensional systems. This is illustrated for several kinds of classical spin systems.