Extraordinary Popular Delusions & the Madness of Crowds

by Charles Mackay

They did not desire to meddle with the politics or religion of any man or set of men, although they could not help denying the supremacy of the Pope, and looking upon him as a tyrant.

Poetry and Romance are deeply indebted to the Rosicrucians for many a graceful creation.

no lover of poetry can wish, however absurd they were, that such a sect of philosophers had never existed.

When the world begins to believe extraordinary things of an individual, there is no telling where its extravagance will stop. People, when once they have taken the start, vie with each other who shall believe most.

on further reflection he was afraid of the ridicule that a full exposure of all the circumstances would draw upon him: he therefore took the truly Italian resolution of being revenged on Balsamo by murdering him at the first convenient opportunity.

The only thing that detracts from the interest of this remarkable story is the fact, that the prophecy was made after the event.

Those who saw through the delusion kept their opinion to themselves, knowing how useless it was to declare their disbelief to a people filled with prejudice and admiration.”

Here, in fact, lies the whole secret of magnetism, and all delusions of a similar kind: increase the spirituality – rouse the spirit from its slumbers, or in other words, work upon the imagination – induce belief and blind confidence, and you may do anything.

Sarah Overton, at the workhouse of the parish of St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields.