Political Quotes

Walter Bagehot: If a tribe or a nation have, by a contagious fancy, come to believe that the doing of any one thing by any number will…

On the record
If a tribe or a nation have, by a contagious fancy, come to believe that the doing of any one thing by any number will be 'unlucky,' that is, will bring an intense and vast liability on them all, then that tribe and that nation will prevent the doing of that thing more than anything else.
Said by
Walter Bagehot

Editor's note · Context

This quote illustrates how collective beliefs can influence societal behavior, particularly regarding superstitions and taboos.

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