Charles Mackay

men think herds mad recover senses slowly

“Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, one by one.”

— Charles Mackay (1814-1889)

history nations whims pecularity mad attention delusion

“In reading The History of Nations, we find that, like individuals, they have their whims and their peculiarities, their seasons of excitement and recklessness, when they care not what they do. We find that whole communities suddenly fix their minds upon one object and go mad in its pursuit; that millions of people become simultaneously impressed with one delusion, and run after it, till their attention is caught by some new folly more captivating than the first.”

— Charles Mackay (1814-1889)

cause discontent mankind irremediable death toil ignorance futur

“Three causes especially have excited the discontent of mankind; and, by impelling us to seek remedies for the irremediable, have bewildered us in a maze of madness and error. These are death, toil, and the ignorance of the future..”

— Charles Mackay (1814-1889)

community fix mind millions delusion folly captivating

“We find that whole communities suddenly fix their minds upon one object, and go mad in its pursuit; that millions of people become simultaneously impressed with one delusion, and run after it, till their attention is caught by some new folly more captivating than the first.”

— Charles Mackay (1814-1889)

tears darkness sun rainbow shine rain sad

“Oh, you tears,

I'm thankful that you run.

Though you trickle in the darkness,

You shall glitter in the sun.

The rainbow could not shine if the rain refused to fall;

And the eyes that cannot weep are the saddest eyes of all.”

— Charles Mackay (1814-1889)

stockjobbing genius nation ruin earnings labour imaginary wealth

“the dangerous practice of stockjobbing, and would divert the genius of the nation from trade and industry. It would hold out a dangerous lure to decoy the unwary to their ruin, by making them part with the earnings of their labour for a prospect of imaginary wealth.”

— Charles Mackay (1814-1889)

pestilence fanatics prophecy plague

“During seasons of great pestilence men have often believed the prophecies of crazed fanatics, that the end of the world was come. Credulity is always greatest in times of calamity. Prophecies of all sorts are rife on such occasions, and are readily believed, whether for good or evil. During the great plague, which ravaged all Europe, between the years 1345 and 1350, it was generally considered that the end of the world was at hand.”

— Charles Mackay (1814-1889)

age folly excitement imitation

"Every age has its peculiar folly: Some scheme, project, or fantasy into which it plunges, spurred on by the love of gain, the necessity of excitement, or the force of imitation."

— Charles Mackay (1814-1889)

event nature omen prognosticator good evil

"There is scarcely an occurrence in nature which, happening at a certain time, is not looked upon by some persons as a prognosticator either of good or evil. The latter are in the greatest number, so much more ingenious are we in tormenting ourselves than in discovering reasons for enjoyment in the things that surround us."

— Charles Mackay (1814-1889)

money delusion multitudes nation gambler gamling

"Money, again, has often been a cause of the delusion of the multitudes. Sober nations have all at once become desperate gamblers, and risked almost their existence upon the turn of a piece of paper."

— Charles Mackay (1814-1889)

offspring time error truth intruder

"Of all the offspring of Time, Error is the most ancient, and is so old and familiar an acquaintance, that Truth, when discovered, comes upon most of us like an intruder, and meets the intruder's welcome."

— Charles Mackay (1814-1889)

nation individual gambler punishment

"Nations, like individuals, cannot become desperate gamblers with impunity. Punishment is sure to overtake them sooner or later."

— Charles Mackay (1814-1889)

fount stream light beam flower blow dawn clear the way

"There's a fount about to stream, There's a light about to beam, There's a warmth about to glow, There's a flower about to blow; There's a midnight blackness changing Into gray; Men of thought and men of action, Clear the way."

— Charles Mackay (1814-1889)

roam sea foam shrill wind whistle free sailor sailing ship

"Some love to roam o'er the dark sea's foam, Where the shrill winds whistle free."

— Charles Mackay (1814-1889)

king wine dine rain shine difference

"The king can drink the best of wine -So can I;

And has enough when he would dine -So have I;

And can not order rain or shine -Nor can I.

Then where's the difference - let me see -Betwixt my lord the king and me?"

— Charles Mackay (1814-1889)

death remnant decay life arise

"There is no such thing as death. In nature nothing dies. From each sad remnant of decay, some forms of life arise so shall his life be taken away before he knoweth that he hath it."

— Charles Mackay (1814-1889)

aid dawning tongue pen honest men

"Aid the dawning, tongue and pen; Aid it, hopes of honest men!"

— Charles Mackay (1814-1889)

water mother vine nurse fecundity refresher world

"Water is the mother of the vine, the nurse and fountain of fecundity, the adorner and refresher of the world."

— Charles Mackay (1814-1889)