Skip to content

Every age has its peculiar folly; some scheme, project, or phantasy into which it plunges, spurred on either by the love of gain, the necessity of excitement, or the mere force of imitation. Failing in these, it has some madness, to which it is goaded by political or religious causes, or both combined.

— Charles Mackay Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds (1841)

Another quote →

More quotes by Charles Mackay

Cannon-balls may aid the truth
But thought’s a weapon stronger;
We’ll win our battles by its aid,
Wait a little longer.

Voices from the Crowd, and Town Lyrics (1857)

The smallest effort is not lost,
Each wavelet on the ocean tost
Aids in the ebb-tide or the flow;
Each rain-drop makes some floweret blow;
Each struggle lessens human woe.

Voices from the Crowd, and Town Lyrics (1857)

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

Legends of the Isles and Other Poems (1851)

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

Legends of the Isles and Other Poems (1851)

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.

Legends of the Isles and Other Poems (1851)

All Charles Mackay quotes →

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Charles Mackay (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.