Some of what these pamphlets [of astrological forecasts]…
“Some of what these pamphlets [of astrological forecasts] say will turn out to be true, but most of it time and experience will expose as empty and worthless. The latter part will be forgotten literally: written on the winds while the former will be carefully entered in people's memories, as is usual with the crowd.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Predictions often appear true due to selective memory, while false ones are forgotten, illustrating confirmation bias.
In simple terms: People remember hits, forget misses.
Question the validity of vague predictions.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- Reading horoscopes
- marketing claims
- political rhetoric
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we cling to occasional accuracy?
- How does social reinforcement affect belief?
Not all predictions are equally memorable; some may be reinforced socially.