Doing anything unlucky is in their idea what putting on something that attracts the electric fluid is in fact, you cannot be sure that harm will not be done, not only to the person in fault, but to those about him too.
Bagehot illustrates the belief in the potential widespread consequences of unlucky actions in early societies.
Share
More from Walter Bagehot
Perhaps such powers as these are what a wise man would most seek to exercise and least fear to possess.
One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea.
The nation then selected the English policy, but the Crown chose the English Ministers.
The power of free interchange of ideas being wanting, the ideas themselves were barren.
Other voices in this conversation
