--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is one of the greatest Curses visited…" description: "\"“It is one of the greatest Curses visited upon Mankind, he told me, that they shall fear where no Fear is: this astrological and superstitious Humour d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/peter-ackroyd-2223_astrology_it-is-one-of-the-greatest-curses-visited_2285152.jpg" --- # It is one of the greatest Curses visited upon Mankind, he… ![“It is one of the greatest Curses visited upon Mankind, he told me, that they shall fear where no Fear is: this astrological and superstitious Humour disarms men's Hearts, it breaks their Courage, it makes them help to bring such Calamities on themselves. Then he stopped short and looked at me, but…” quote by Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/peter-ackroyd-2223_astrology_it-is-one-of-the-greatest-curses-visited_2285152.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/peter-ackroyd-2223_astrology_it-is-one-of-the-greatest-curses-visited_2285152.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/peter-ackroyd-2223_astrology_it-is-one-of-the-greatest-curses-visited_2285152.jpg) > ““It is one of the greatest Curses visited upon Mankind, he told me, that they shall fear where no Fear is: this astrological and superstitious Humour disarms men's Hearts, it breaks their Courage, it makes them help to bring such Calamities on themselves. Then he stopped short and looked at me, but my Measure was not yet fill'd up so I begg' d him to go on, go on. And he continued: First, they fancy that such ill Accidents must come to pass, and so they render themselves fit Subjects to be wrought upon; it is a Disgrace to the Reason and Honour of Mankind that every fantasticall Humourist can presume to interpret the Skies (here he grew Hot and put down his Dish) and to expound the Time and Seasons and Fates of Empires, assigning the Causes of Plagues and Fires to the Sins of Men or the Judgements of God. This weakens the Constancy of Humane Actions, and affects Men with Fears, Doubts, Irresolutions and Terrours. I was afraid of your Moving Picture, I said without thought, and that was why I left. It was only Clock-work, Nick. But what of the vast Machine of the World, in which Men move by Rote but in which nothing is free from Danger? Nature yields to the Froward and the Bold. It does not yield, it devours: You cannot master or manage Nature. But, Nick, our Age can at least take up the Rubbidge and lay the Foundacions: that is why we must study the principles of Nature, for they are our best Draught. No, sir, you must study the Humours and Natures of Men: they are corrupt, and therefore your best Guides to understand Corrupcion. The things of the Earth must be understood by the sentient Faculties, not by the Understanding. There was a Silence between us now until Sir Chris. says, Is your Boy in the Kitchin? I am mighty Hungry.”” [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human fear of unknown forces weakens resolve, leading to self‑inflicted calamities and reliance on superstition over reason. **In simple terms:** Fear of the unknown erodes courage and reason. Key Takeaway Question superstition, seek rational understanding. Themes fear superstition human nature reason courage Mood anxious reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - personal decisionmaking - leadership - risk management - education - policy making Key Concepts psychology philosophy astrology determinism Questions to Reflect On - How does fear shape your choices? - What rational tools can replace superstition? A Different Perspective Superstition can provide comfort, making rational critique harder. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astrology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astrology/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fears/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logic/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Rationality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rationality/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Superstition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superstition/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [ “The LORD is my  h light and my  i salvation;          j whom shall I fear?     The LORD is the stronghold \[1\] of my life;         of whom shall I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-lord-is-my-h-light-and-my-i-salvation-j-whom-shall-i-fear-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you are prepared you shall not fear. — BISHOP GÉRALD CAUSSÉ Even”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/if-you-are-prepared-you-shall-not-fear-bishop-g-rald-causs-even/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [Ye shall fear every man his mother and his father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-taylor/ye-shall-fear-every-man-his-mother-and-his-father/) [Jeremy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-taylor/) > [Thy I walk through valley of the shadow of death I shall fear no evil for they rod and thy staff shall comfort me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thy-i-walk-through-valley-of-the-shadow-of-death-i-shall-fear-no-evil/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But you who walk facing the sun, what images drawn on the earth can hold you? You who travel with the wind, what weathervane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-you-who-walk-facing-the-sun-what-images-drawn-on-the-earth-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamera-alexander/the-lord-is-my-light-and-my-salvation-whom-shall-i-fear-the-lord-is-2/) [Tamera Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamera-alexander/) > [Let the first act of every morning be to make the following resolve for the day: - I shall not fear anyone on Earth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-the-first-act-of-every-morning-be-to-make-the-following-resolve/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [shall I, for fear of feeble man who shall die, hold my peace? Shall I for fear of scoffs and frowns, refrain my tongue?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-w-stewart/shall-i-for-fear-of-feeble-man-who-shall-die-hold-my-peace-shall-i/) [Maria W. Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-w-stewart/) > [“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-lord-is-my-light-and-my-salvation-whom-shall-i-fear-the-lord-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing can hurt you unless you give it the power." "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/and-bible/nothing-can-hurt-you-unless-you-give-it-the-power-even-though-i-walk/) and Bible > [To-day, to-morrow, every day, to thousands the end of the world is close at hand. And why should we fear it? We walk here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/to-day-to-morrow-every-day-to-thousands-the-end-of-the-world-is-close/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [“I shall fear not. According to the Testament of Mezerek, the fisherman Nonpo spent four days in the belly of a giant fish," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-shall-fear-not-according-to-the-testament-of-mezerek-the-fisherman/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [What shall he fear that does not fear death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/what-shall-he-fear-that-does-not-fear-death/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [“To fear death, gentlemen, is no other than to think oneself wise when one is not, to think one knows what one does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/to-fear-death-gentlemen-is-no-other-than-to-think-oneself-wise-when/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [When we fear God, then we shall fear no man, however high-placed he may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/when-we-fear-god-then-we-shall-fear-no-man-however-high-placed-he-may/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More by Peter Ackroyd > [If I did only one thing at a time I'd think I was wasting my time. If, for example, I only wrote novels I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/if-i-did-only-one-thing-at-a-time-i-d-think-i-was-wasting-my-time-if/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [I believe that the gods themselves are frightened of the world which they have fashioned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/i-believe-that-the-gods-themselves-are-frightened-of-the-world-which/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [“A woman is a deep Ditch, said he, her House inclines to Death and her Paths unto the Devil”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/a-woman-is-a-deep-ditch-said-he-her-house-inclines-to-death-and-her/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [I don't know if I have a voice of my own. I don't see me being an important person with something to say. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/i-don-t-know-if-i-have-a-voice-of-my-own-i-don-t-see-me-being-an/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [The ordinary routines of life are never chronicled by the historian, but they make up almost the whole of experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/the-ordinary-routines-of-life-are-never-chronicled-by-the-historian/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [“I believe now that there can be no real sense of loss or seperation without the recognition of death; we were too young to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/i-believe-now-that-there-can-be-no-real-sense-of-loss-or-seperation/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [I don't find myself interesting as a person and the details I find boring, quite frankly. You could sum it up in a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/i-don-t-find-myself-interesting-as-a-person-and-the-details-i-find/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [Rioting has always been a London tradition. It has been since the early Middle Ages. There's hardly a spate of years that goes by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/rioting-has-always-been-a-london-tradition-it-has-been-since-the/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [“absinthe removes the bitter taste of failure and grants me strange visions which are charming principally because they cannot be written down. Only in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/absinthe-removes-the-bitter-taste-of-failure-and-grants-me-strange/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [“Those in their snug Bed-chambers may call the Fears of Night meer Bugbears, but their Minds have not pierced into the Horror of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/those-in-their-snug-bed-chambers-may-call-the-fears-of-night-meer/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [In so far as I have any beliefs, I suppose I'm like that old Peggy Lee song, 'Is That All There Is?' I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/in-so-far-as-i-have-any-beliefs-i-suppose-i-m-like-that-old-peggy-lee/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [“dyer. (Looking at him scornfully) So that is why Wits swarm like Egypt's Frogs. If I were a Writer now, I would wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/dyer-looking-at-him-scornfully-so-that-is-why-wits-swarm-like-egypt-s/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [The embrace of present and past time, in which English antiquarianism becomes a form of alchemy, engenders a strange timelessness. It is as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/the-embrace-of-present-and-past-time-in-which-english-antiquarianism/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [In London, I've always lived within 10 miles of where I was born. You see, there is something called a spirit of place, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/in-london-i-ve-always-lived-within-10-miles-of-where-i-was-born-you/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [There is no humiliation worse than the consciousness of a wasted life. It stains the spirit, forestalls hope, and destroys any motive for action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/there-is-no-humiliation-worse-than-the-consciousness-of-a-wasted-life/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) [Explore all 178 Peter Ackroyd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) ## More Astrology quotes > [Failure or success seems to have been allotted to men by their stars. But they retain the power of wriggling, of fighting with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/failure-or-success-seems-to-have-been-allotted-to-men-by-their-stars/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My sign is Leo. A Leo has to walk with pride. When he takes a step, he has to put his foot down. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-snipes/my-sign-is-leo-a-leo-has-to-walk-with-pride-when-he-takes-a-step-he/) [Wesley Snipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-snipes/) > [When a Gemini is finally tired of trying, they will just leave, no fight, no argument and sometimes not even a goodbye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-a-gemini-is-finally-tired-of-trying-they-will-just-leave-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Astrology is knocking at the gates of our universities: A Tübingen professor has switched over to astrology and a course on astrology was given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/astrology-is-knocking-at-the-gates-of-our-universities-a-t-bingen/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [An Aries will continue something even if others give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-aries-will-continue-something-even-if-others-give-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sagittarius don't like to be the first one to say sorry when they knew they were right in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sagittarius-don-t-like-to-be-the-first-one-to-say-sorry-when-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All anyone can see in a birthchart are tendencies that will become facts if he does not do something to alter them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-hickey/all-anyone-can-see-in-a-birthchart-are-tendencies-that-will-become/) Isabel Hickey > [“Rooster/Pisces: Likes shiny things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-white/rooster-pisces-likes-shiny-things/) Suzanne White > [Astrology reveals the will of the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/astrology-reveals-the-will-of-the-gods/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/as-in-the-instances-of-alchemy-astrology-witchcraft-and-other-such/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [I wanna say I'm detached, but I'm an Aquarius that's sensitive as hell. That's dope, though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-wanna-say-i-m-detached-but-i-m-an-aquarius-that-s-sensitive-as-hell/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [Turquoise is my birthstone; I'm a Sagittarius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/turquoise-is-my-birthstone-i-m-a-sagittarius/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [Both the five-year-olds looked at me with bewilderment and a bit of fearful uncertainty. I had a sudden horrifying image of the woman I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/both-the-five-year-olds-looked-at-me-with-bewilderment-and-a-bit-of/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Most Sagittariuses start off really reserved. You gotta check people out, see what they're about, and then once we decide you're cool, then that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-layne/most-sagittariuses-start-off-really-reserved-you-gotta-check-people/) [KiKi Layne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-layne/) > [I don't believe in astrology; I'm a Sagittarius and we're skeptical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/i-don-t-believe-in-astrology-i-m-a-sagittarius-and-we-re-skeptical/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) [Browse all 754 Astrology quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astrology/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is one of the greatest Curses visited upon Mankind, he told me, that they shall fear where no Fear is: this astrological and superstitious Humour disarms men's Hearts, it breaks their Courage, it makes them help to bring such Calamities on themselves. Then he stopped short and looked at me, but my Measure was not yet fill'd up so I begg' d him to go on, go on. And he continued: First, they fancy that such ill Accidents must come to pass, and so they render themselves fit Subjects to be wrought upon; it is a Disgrace to the Reason and Honour of Mankind that every fantasticall Humourist can presume to interpret the Skies (here he grew Hot and put down his Dish) and to expound the Time and Seasons and Fates of Empires, assigning the Causes of Plagues and Fires to the Sins of Men or the Judgements of God. This weakens the Constancy of Humane Actions, and affects Men with Fears, Doubts, Irresolutions and Terrours. I was afraid of your Moving Picture, I said without thought, and that was why I left. It was only Clock-work, Nick. But what of the vast Machine of the World, in which Men move by Rote but in which nothing is free from Danger? Nature yields to the Froward and the Bold. It does not yield, it devours: You cannot master or manage Nature. But, Nick, our Age can at least take up the Rubbidge and lay the Foundacions: that is why we must study the principles of Nature, for they are our best Draught. No, sir, you must study the Humours and Natures of Men: they are corrupt, and therefore your best Guides to understand Corrupcion. The things of the Earth must be understood by the sentient Faculties, not by the Understanding. There was a Silence between us now until Sir Chris. says, Is your Boy in the Kitchin? 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