--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who knows what madness has beguiled those…" description: "\"“Who knows what madness has beguiled those fools. But history teaches us that when a society grows old enough, and secure enough, some of its citezins ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/865/glenn-g-thater-40890_bad-weather_who-knows-what-madness-has-beguiled-thos_1480371.jpg" --- # Who knows what madness has beguiled those fools. But… ![“Who knows what madness has beguiled those fools. But history teaches us that when a society grows old enough, and secure enough, some of its citezins get bored and learn to hate their country. It’s some sickness of the mind that all too many seem susceptible to. They see evil only in their own…” quote by Glenn G. Thater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/865/glenn-g-thater-40890_bad-weather_who-knows-what-madness-has-beguiled-thos_1480371.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/865/glenn-g-thater-40890_bad-weather_who-knows-what-madness-has-beguiled-thos_1480371.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/865/glenn-g-thater-40890_bad-weather_who-knows-what-madness-has-beguiled-thos_1480371.jpg) > ““Who knows what madness has beguiled those fools. But history teaches us that when a society grows old enough, and secure enough, some of its citezins get bored and learn to hate their country. It’s some sickness of the mind that all too many seem susceptible to. They see evil only in their own, though not in themselves, and grow blind to all evil from without. They go so far as to blame their own people or their own government for the evils of foreign tyrants and the crimes of common brigands, and even for bad weather.”” [Glenn G. Thater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-g-thater/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When societies become comfortable, complacency breeds discontent, leading citizens to blame external forces for internal problems. **In simple terms:** Complacency fuels blame of outsiders. Key Takeaway Encourage critical self‑reflection. Themes politics societal health psychology Mood cautious reflective Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - public policy debates - community forums - educational curricula Key Concepts complacency scapegoating collective identity Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms prevent societal complacency? - How can communities foster internal accountability? A Different Perspective Blaming outsiders can oversimplify complex issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad weather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-weather/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) ## Related quotes > [Be this our wall of brass, to be conscious of having done no evil, and to grow pale at no accusation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/be-this-our-wall-of-brass-to-be-conscious-of-having-done-no-evil-and/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Good and evil grow up together and are bound in an equilibrium that cannot be sundered. The most we can do is try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/good-and-evil-grow-up-together-and-are-bound-in-an-equilibrium-that/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Destroy the seed of evil, or it will grow up to your ruin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/destroy-the-seed-of-evil-or-it-will-grow-up-to-your-ruin/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [There are no necessary evils in government. Its evils exist only in its abuses. If it would confine itself to equal protection, and, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/there-are-no-necessary-evils-in-government-its-evils-exist-only-in-2/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [There are no necessary evils in government. Its evils exist only in its abuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/there-are-no-necessary-evils-in-government-its-evils-exist-only-in/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [“Old Burmese (now Myanmar) proverb: Burmese proverb: Government is one of the five evils along with fire, floods, thieves and enemies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-friedland/old-burmese-now-myanmar-proverb-burmese-proverb-government-is-one-of/) Jeffrey Friedland > [There are no necessary evils in government. It's evils exist only in it's abuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/there-are-no-necessary-evils-in-government-it-s-evils-exist-only-in/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [“I think the people from Mississippi ought to come to Chicago to learn how to hate." Martin Luther King, Jr. after the violent reception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/i-think-the-people-from-mississippi-ought-to-come-to-chicago-to-learn/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background or his religion. People learn to hate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-one-is-born-hating-another-person-because-of-the-colour-of-his-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The day you learn how not to cry is the day you learn to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/the-day-you-learn-how-not-to-cry-is-the-day-you-learn-to-hate/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Churchill—“Love to learn—hate to be taught.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/churchill-love-to-learn-hate-to-be-taught/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The day you learn not to cry is the day you learn to HATE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/the-day-you-learn-not-to-cry-is-the-day-you-learn-to-hate/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/no-one-is-born-hating-another-person-because-of-the-colour-of-his/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [if you learn to hate one or two persons... you'll soon hate millions of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/if-you-learn-to-hate-one-or-two-persons-you-ll-soon-hate-millions-of/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [Memo to extreme partisans: If you can't bring yourselves to love your enemies, can you at least learn to hate your friends?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/memo-to-extreme-partisans-if-you-can-t-bring-yourselves-to-love-your/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) ## More by Glenn G. Thater > [“Azathoth, father to us all, teaches us that each man is of equal value to all others and entitled to the same benefits, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-g-thater/azathoth-father-to-us-all-teaches-us-that-each-man-is-of-equal-value/) [Glenn G. Thater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-g-thater/) > [“Ob nodded. “That explains it. Half the servants we got burn the water and boil the toast. Stinking bumpkins,” he said as he lifted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-g-thater/ob-nodded-that-explains-it-half-the-servants-we-got-burn-the-water/) [Glenn G. Thater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-g-thater/) > [“The truths and philosophies explored in the saga offer lessons seemingly lost on nation after nation, since they fail to learn from and inevitably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-g-thater/the-truths-and-philosophies-explored-in-the-saga-offer-lessons/) [Glenn G. Thater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-g-thater/) > [“religious zealotry can take hold of a man and make him do things beyond his imagining.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-g-thater/religious-zealotry-can-take-hold-of-a-man-and-make-him-do-things/) [Glenn G. Thater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-g-thater/) > [“Truth is in the perception more than the fact,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-g-thater/truth-is-in-the-perception-more-than-the-fact/) [Glenn G. Thater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-g-thater/) > [“several notable works containing Thetian stories have been penned through the centuries. Grenville's work, Ancient Warriors of Scandinavia (1884), and Addleson's, The Lost Cities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-g-thater/several-notable-works-containing-thetian-stories-have-been-penned/) [Glenn G. Thater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-g-thater/) > [“Wars are started by them what don't know no better, or don't care, or are crazy. Hotheaded younkers or old farts what never seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-g-thater/wars-are-started-by-them-what-don-t-know-no-better-or-don-t-care-or/) [Glenn G. Thater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-g-thater/) > [“Ob raised an eyebrow. “You don’t think he did the right thing, do you?” “It was the right thing,” said Dolan. “It’s just that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-g-thater/ob-raised-an-eyebrow-you-don-t-think-he-did-the-right-thing-do-you-it/) [Glenn G. Thater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-g-thater/) > [“Where life yet remains, there is always a chance,” said Theta. “Hope?” said Tanch. “Is that what you mean?” “No,” said Theta. “Hope is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-g-thater/where-life-yet-remains-there-is-always-a-chance-said-theta-hope-said/) [Glenn G. Thater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-g-thater/) [Explore all 10 Glenn G. Thater quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-g-thater/) ## More Bad weather quotes > [In Ireland there’s no such thing as bad weather ~~~ only the wrong clothes. (In the Company of Others)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/in-ireland-there-s-no-such-thing-as-bad-weather-only-the-wrong/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [“If you see birds flying high in the sky, it means clear weather. However, if you see a lot of birds roosting on power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-mckay/if-you-see-birds-flying-high-in-the-sky-it-means-clear-weather/) [Brett McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-mckay/) > [“news?” “What news?” “I have my own name. From now, I am Slug!”, the tortoise boasted with joy. “And when I become a grown-up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-lukshin/news-what-news-i-have-my-own-name-from-now-i-am-slug-the-tortoise/) Alexei Lukshin > [You can never be an entrepreneur if you're afraid to lose money. It's like being a pilot who is afraid of bad weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-de-savary/you-can-never-be-an-entrepreneur-if-you-re-afraid-to-lose-money-it-s/) Peter de Savary > [All hail Weezy, call it bad weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/all-hail-weezy-call-it-bad-weather/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [everyone knows, at some level, that the sharp line between "good weather" and "bad weather" is a fiction, that we need rain as surely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/everyone-knows-at-some-level-that-the-sharp-line-between-good-weather/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [Concrete is, essentially, the color of bad weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hamilton/concrete-is-essentially-the-color-of-bad-weather/) [William Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hamilton/) > [There's no such thing as good weather, or bad weather. There's just weather and your attitude towards it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/there-s-no-such-thing-as-good-weather-or-bad-weather-there-s-just/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [Yeah I'm a put my shades on Uh I live it up like these are my last days If time is money, I'm an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/yeah-i-m-a-put-my-shades-on-uh-i-live-it-up-like-these-are-my-last/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [For the man sound of body and serene of mind there is no such thing as bad weather; every day has its beauty, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gissing/for-the-man-sound-of-body-and-serene-of-mind-there-is-no-such-thing/) [George Gissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gissing/) > [“She was an extraordinary person too! Would you believe it, she cut her hair short, and used to go about in men’s boots in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/she-was-an-extraordinary-person-too-would-you-believe-it-she-cut-her/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/sunshine-is-delicious-rain-is-refreshing-wind-braces-us-up-snow-is/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Nature never hurries: atom by atom, little by little, she achieves her work. The lesson one learns from yachting or planting is the manners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/nature-never-hurries-atom-by-atom-little-by-little-she-achieves-her/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If and when I do get "down," the last thing on my mind is writing a song. Usually, being bummed just involves lying around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wooden-wand/if-and-when-i-do-get-down-the-last-thing-on-my-mind-is-writing-a-song/) [Wooden Wand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wooden-wand/) > [Them haters probably wonder when I'm gone stop, never! Most of it's been good but I've seen some bad weather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/them-haters-probably-wonder-when-i-m-gone-stop-never-most-of-it-s/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) [Browse all 121 Bad weather quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-weather/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Who knows what madness has beguiled those fools. But history teaches us that when a society grows old enough, and secure enough, some of its citezins get bored and learn to hate their country. It’s some sickness of the mind that all too many seem susceptible to. They see evil only in their own, though not in themselves, and grow blind to all evil from without. They go so far as to blame their own people or their own government for the evils of foreign tyrants and the crimes of common brigands, and even for bad weather.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Glenn G. Thater" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-g-thater/who-knows-what-madness-has-beguiled-those-fools-but-history-teaches/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad weather" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-g-thater/who-knows-what-madness-has-beguiled-those-fools-but-history-teaches/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/865/glenn-g-thater-40890_bad-weather_who-knows-what-madness-has-beguiled-thos_1480371.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/865/glenn-g-thater-40890_bad-weather_who-knows-what-madness-has-beguiled-thos_1480371.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/865/glenn-g-thater-40890_bad-weather_who-knows-what-madness-has-beguiled-thos_1480371.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Who knows what madness has beguiled those fools. But history teaches us that when a society grows old…” — Glenn G. Thater", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Glenn G. Thater", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-g-thater/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Who knows what madness has beguiled...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-g-thater/who-knows-what-madness-has-beguiled-those-fools-but-history-teaches/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-g-thater/who-knows-what-madness-has-beguiled-those-fools-but-history-teaches/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```