--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the 16th and 17th centuries, as many…" description: "\"In the 16th and 17th centuries, as many as 60,000 people were executed in Europe as suspected witches. But it would be nice to think that centuries of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/max-boot-4274_be-nice_in-the-16th-and-17th-centuries-as-many-a_2698643.jpg" --- # In the 16th and 17th centuries, as many as 60,000 people… ![“In the 16th and 17th centuries, as many as 60,000 people were executed in Europe as suspected witches. But it would be nice to think that centuries of advances in science and education have made people less prey to phantasms and falsehoods.” quote by Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/max-boot-4274_be-nice_in-the-16th-and-17th-centuries-as-many-a_2698643.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/max-boot-4274_be-nice_in-the-16th-and-17th-centuries-as-many-a_2698643.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/max-boot-4274_be-nice_in-the-16th-and-17th-centuries-as-many-a_2698643.jpg) > “In the 16th and 17th centuries, as many as 60,000 people were executed in Europe as suspected witches. But it would be nice to think that centuries of advances in science and education have made people less prey to phantasms and falsehoods.” [Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historical witch executions were common, but modern science and education have reduced belief in superstition. **In simple terms:** Witch hunts were frequent; education reduces superstition. Key Takeaway Promote education to combat false beliefs. Themes history science education Mood reflective hopeful Type historical educational When to use this quote - history lessons - public policy - science communication Key Concepts superstition rationalism Questions to Reflect On - How does education change belief systems? - What modern myths remain? A Different Perspective Residual superstition persists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [17Th Centuries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/17th-centuries-794716/) [Be nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-nice/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Phantasms Falsehoods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phantasms-falsehoods-2714696/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Suspected Witches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspected-witches-2714695/) [Witches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witches/) [Witches Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witches-nice-2714697/) ## Related quotes > [The modern Western world is in many ways a sustained attempt to deal with the unintended and unwanted problems related to the disruptive fracturing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stephan-gregory/the-modern-western-world-is-in-many-ways-a-sustained-attempt-to-deal/) [Brad Stephan Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stephan-gregory/) > [My best parenting advice would be not to take the job too seriously. Teach your kids to be nice, and everything else falls into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-falcone/my-best-parenting-advice-would-be-not-to-take-the-job-too-seriously/) [Ben Falcone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-falcone/) > [I've won the British title and although it would be nice to win it outright, I want to push on to the next level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-fielding/i-ve-won-the-british-title-and-although-it-would-be-nice-to-win-it/) [Rocky Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-fielding/) > [You have to create characters - certainly in series TV - who people engage with. They don't have to be nice; you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/you-have-to-create-characters-certainly-in-series-tv-who-people/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [The injunction to be nice is used to deflect criticism and stifle the legitimate anger of dissent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-injunction-to-be-nice-is-used-to-deflect-criticism-and-stifle-the/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [Grand Slam losses are hard. I treat myself after losses though, I usually go to McDonald's and I have a hamburger and you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/grand-slam-losses-are-hard-i-treat-myself-after-losses-though-i/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [I really miss having a routine because now I've been on the road constantly for several months. I like routines, so it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/i-really-miss-having-a-routine-because-now-i-ve-been-on-the-road/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [Sometimes I feel it would be nice to have a bit more privacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-sugg/sometimes-i-feel-it-would-be-nice-to-have-a-bit-more-privacy/) [Zoe Sugg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-sugg/) > [I do have to take care of myself, not only because I'm in the movies, just for mental health reasons. I exercise for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-do-have-to-take-care-of-myself-not-only-because-i-m-in-the-movies/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [I know if I'm nervous or excited to do something before I'm doing it that there's gonna be nice energy there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myha-la/i-know-if-i-m-nervous-or-excited-to-do-something-before-i-m-doing-it/) [Myha'la](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myha-la/) > [Obama can't change his cool disposition, though it would be nice if he lost the vaguely grudging air he gives off that problems of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-brown/obama-can-t-change-his-cool-disposition-though-it-would-be-nice-if-he/) [Tina Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-brown/) > [I seem to find different material every four to six months and I frequently forget it which is a shame because it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-kottke/i-seem-to-find-different-material-every-four-to-six-months-and-i/) [Leo Kottke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-kottke/) > [People have said to me, 'It must be nice to prove so many people wrong,' but I've never really cared about proving anything to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bryan/people-have-said-to-me-it-must-be-nice-to-prove-so-many-people-wrong/) [Daniel Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bryan/) > [One of the things that I miss about Canada is that even the strangers, you have an immediate rapport, there's just an understanding that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/one-of-the-things-that-i-miss-about-canada-is-that-even-the-strangers/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I don't think they need to be nice to reporters, but the White House seems to imagine that releasing information is like a tap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/i-don-t-think-they-need-to-be-nice-to-reporters-but-the-white-house/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) ## More by Max Boot > [The history of the modern Republican Party is the story of moderates being driven out and conservatives taking over - and then of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-boot/the-history-of-the-modern-republican-party-is-the-story-of-moderates/) [Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/) > [“There were few more unlikely candidates in 1611 for Great Power status than Sweden. Even with its satrapy of Finland, the total population numbered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-boot/there-were-few-more-unlikely-candidates-in-1611-for-great-power/) [Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/) > [The John F. Kennedy presidency, with its glittering court of Camelot, cemented the impression that it was the Democrats who represented the thinking men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-boot/the-john-f-kennedy-presidency-with-its-glittering-court-of-camelot/) [Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/) > [There are two kinds of people: Those who like active vacations and those who like sedentary vacations. I'm one of the weird hybrids who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-boot/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-those-who-like-active-vacations-and/) [Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/) > [Silence is complicity. All Republicans who stand mute in the face of Trump's latest racism are telling you who they really are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-boot/silence-is-complicity-all-republicans-who-stand-mute-in-the-face-of/) [Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/) > [Joe Biden stands out from other Democratic candidates not just by taking on President Trump directly but also by seeking to separate Trump from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-boot/joe-biden-stands-out-from-other-democratic-candidates-not-just-by/) [Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/) > [What would I do now, at age 48, if I were deported to a country that I have not seen in more than 40…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-boot/what-would-i-do-now-at-age-48-if-i-were-deported-to-a-country-that-i/) [Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/) > [Neoconservatism' once had a real meaning - back in the 1970s. But the label has now become meaningless. With many of those who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-boot/neoconservatism-once-had-a-real-meaning-back-in-the-1970s-but-the/) [Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/) > [To win in 2020, a Democratic nominee will need to win back voters in key Midwestern states who supported Trump in 2016.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-boot/to-win-in-2020-a-democratic-nominee-will-need-to-win-back-voters-in/) [Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/) > [Olga E. Kagan was the strongest woman I knew - and probably the reason I've spent my life with other strong women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-boot/olga-e-kagan-was-the-strongest-woman-i-knew-and-probably-the-reason-i/) [Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/) > [“But in the military sphere, just as in science, economics, art, or culture, change is not evenly distributed across space and time. Sometimes innovations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-boot/but-in-the-military-sphere-just-as-in-science-economics-art-or/) [Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/) > [Thirty years on, I am no longer as certain about anything as I was at age 20. I now regret my support for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-boot/thirty-years-on-i-am-no-longer-as-certain-about-anything-as-i-was-at/) [Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/) > [The 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, has not so far provoked the kind of anguished debate that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-boot/the-60th-anniversary-of-the-atomic-bombing-of-hiroshima-on-aug-6-1945/) [Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/) > [“The dominance of the man on horseback was challenged during the fourteenth century in what some historians call the infantry revolution. English longbowmen and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-boot/the-dominance-of-the-man-on-horseback-was-challenged-during-the/) [Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/) > [“a crucial element of English success was their commanders’ ability to learn on the fly, make adjustments, and attempt new tactics. The Spanish paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-boot/a-crucial-element-of-english-success-was-their-commanders-ability-to/) [Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/) [Explore all 113 Max Boot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/) ## More Be nice quotes > [I don't think they need to be nice to reporters, but the White House seems to imagine that releasing information is like a tap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/i-don-t-think-they-need-to-be-nice-to-reporters-but-the-white-house/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [One of the things that I miss about Canada is that even the strangers, you have an immediate rapport, there's just an understanding that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/one-of-the-things-that-i-miss-about-canada-is-that-even-the-strangers/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [People have said to me, 'It must be nice to prove so many people wrong,' but I've never really cared about proving anything to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bryan/people-have-said-to-me-it-must-be-nice-to-prove-so-many-people-wrong/) [Daniel Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bryan/) > [I seem to find different material every four to six months and I frequently forget it which is a shame because it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-kottke/i-seem-to-find-different-material-every-four-to-six-months-and-i/) [Leo Kottke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-kottke/) > [Obama can't change his cool disposition, though it would be nice if he lost the vaguely grudging air he gives off that problems of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-brown/obama-can-t-change-his-cool-disposition-though-it-would-be-nice-if-he/) [Tina Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-brown/) > [I know if I'm nervous or excited to do something before I'm doing it that there's gonna be nice energy there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myha-la/i-know-if-i-m-nervous-or-excited-to-do-something-before-i-m-doing-it/) [Myha'la](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myha-la/) > [I do have to take care of myself, not only because I'm in the movies, just for mental health reasons. I exercise for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-do-have-to-take-care-of-myself-not-only-because-i-m-in-the-movies/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [Sometimes I feel it would be nice to have a bit more privacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-sugg/sometimes-i-feel-it-would-be-nice-to-have-a-bit-more-privacy/) [Zoe Sugg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-sugg/) > [I really miss having a routine because now I've been on the road constantly for several months. I like routines, so it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/i-really-miss-having-a-routine-because-now-i-ve-been-on-the-road/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [Grand Slam losses are hard. I treat myself after losses though, I usually go to McDonald's and I have a hamburger and you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/grand-slam-losses-are-hard-i-treat-myself-after-losses-though-i/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [The injunction to be nice is used to deflect criticism and stifle the legitimate anger of dissent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-injunction-to-be-nice-is-used-to-deflect-criticism-and-stifle-the/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [You have to create characters - certainly in series TV - who people engage with. 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