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Lovers of small numbers go benignly potty, Believe all…

“Lovers of small numbers go benignly potty, Believe all tales are thirteen chapters long, Have animal doubles, carry pentagrams, Are Millerites, Baconians, Flat-Earth-Men. Lovers of big numbers go horribly mad, would have the Swiss abolished, all of us Well-purged, somatotyped, baptised, taught…” quote by W.H. Auden
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““Lovers of small numbers go benignly potty, Believe all tales are thirteen chapters long, Have animal doubles, carry pentagrams, Are Millerites, Baconians, Flat-Earth-Men. Lovers of big numbers go horribly mad, would have the Swiss abolished, all of us Well-purged, somatotyped, baptised, taught baseball: They empty bars, spoil parties, run for Congress.””

W.H. Auden

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Contrasting attitudes toward numbers: small-number lovers are harmless, big-number lovers become extreme and destructive.

In simple terms: Small numbers = benign; big numbers = dangerous.

Key Takeaway

Beware obsession with magnitude.

Themes

numbers psychology extremism

Mood

cynical ironic

Type

satirical poetic

When to use this quote

  • political activism
  • scientific discourse
  • online communities
  • academic research

Key Concepts

numerology social critique conspiracy theories

Questions to Reflect On

  • What drives people to fear large numbers?
  • How does numerology influence behavior?
A Different Perspective

May oversimplify complex issues to mere size.

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