Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds

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.

But the sunshine aye shall light the sky, As round and round we run; And the truth shall ever come uppermost, And justice shall be done.

An arrow may fly through the air and leave no trace; but an ill thought leaves a trail like a serpent.

If happy I and wretched he, Perhaps the king would change with me.

Old Tubal Cain was a man of might In the days when earth was young.

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.