The nature of minds which are deeply engaged in watching events of which they do not know the reason, is to single out some fabulous accompaniment or some wonderful series of good luck or bad luck, and to dread ever after that accompaniment if it brings evil, and to love it and long for it if it brings good.
Bagehot explores how minds engaged in uncertainty often attribute luck to events, shaping their beliefs.
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But, above all things, they were frightened of 'the world;' the spectacle of nature filled them with awe and dread.
We have thus a whole group of ancient republics of non-Aryan race, and one which, being more ancient than the classical republics, could not have borrowed from or imitated them.
One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea.
The whole history of civilisation, is strewn with creeds and institutions which were invaluable at first, and deadly afterwards.
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