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Business Quote by Edgar Allan Poe

“But the aeronaut, still greatly discomposed, and having apparently no farther business to detain him in Rotterdam, began at this moment to make busy preparations for departure; and it being necessary to discharge a portion of ballast to enable him to reascend, the half dozen bags which he threw…” quote by Edgar Allan Poe
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““But the aeronaut, still greatly discomposed, and having apparently no farther business to detain him in Rotterdam, began at this moment to make busy preparations for departure; and it being necessary to discharge a portion of ballast to enable him to reascend, the half dozen bags which he threw out, one after another, without taking the trouble to empty their contents, tumbled, every one of them, most unfortunately upon the back of the burgomaster, and rolled him over and over no less than one-and-twenty times, in the face of every man in Rotterdam.””

Edgar Allan Poe

About This Quote

Source Short story: “The Balloonist”, 1844

Narrates a chaotic scene where a balloonist’s discarded ballast unintentionally harms a city official, causing public spectacle.

In simple terms: A careless act leads to public embarrassment.

Key Takeaway

Act responsibly to avoid unintended harm.

Themes

humor human error public mishap

Mood

lighthearted anecdotal

Type

literary humorous

When to use this quote

  • event planning
  • risk assessment
  • public safety

Key Concepts

carelessness social embarrassment unintended consequences

Questions to Reflect On

  • What responsibilities do we have for our mistakes?
  • How can we mitigate accidental harm?
A Different Perspective

Context is a fictional, exaggerated anecdote.

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