--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is an odd quirk in the human mind…" description: "\"“There is an odd quirk in the human mind that makes a fearful man prefer to go quietly to a wicked-looking, gnarled \"witch\" for a countercharm than to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/randall-garrett-59305_charms_there-is-an-odd-quirk-in-the-human-mind_2262984.jpg" --- # There is an odd quirk in the human mind that makes a… ![“There is an odd quirk in the human mind that makes a fearful man prefer to go quietly to a wicked-looking, gnarled "witch" for a countercharm than to a respectable licensed sorcerer or an accredited priest of the Church.” quote by Randall Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/randall-garrett-59305_charms_there-is-an-odd-quirk-in-the-human-mind_2262984.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/randall-garrett-59305_charms_there-is-an-odd-quirk-in-the-human-mind_2262984.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/randall-garrett-59305_charms_there-is-an-odd-quirk-in-the-human-mind_2262984.jpg) > ““There is an odd quirk in the human mind that makes a fearful man prefer to go quietly to a wicked-looking, gnarled "witch" for a countercharm than to a respectable licensed sorcerer or an accredited priest of the Church.”” [Randall Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-garrett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear drives people to seek unconventional, perhaps irrational solutions over trusted experts. **In simple terms:** Fear leads to odd choices. Key Takeaway Question why fear pushes you to odd fixes. Themes fear irrationality trust Mood cautionary analytical Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - health decisions - financial advice - relationship counseling - spiritual seeking Key Concepts cognitive bias risk perception belief systems Questions to Reflect On - Why do you trust a “witch” over a professional? - What evidence supports the chosen solution? A Different Perspective Reliance on dubious solutions can cause harm or wasted resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-mind/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Witches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witches/) ## Related quotes > [It is a curious quirk of human nature that some people can see opportunities, while others only see problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/it-is-a-curious-quirk-of-human-nature-that-some-people-can-see/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [A fearful man is always hearing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-fearful-man-is-always-hearing-things/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Nothing gives a fearful man more courage than another's fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/nothing-gives-a-fearful-man-more-courage-than-another-s-fear/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [For whatever is truly wondrous and fearful in man, never yet was put into words or books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/for-whatever-is-truly-wondrous-and-fearful-in-man-never-yet-was-put/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [A fearful man who knows he is fearful is far more trustable than a fearful man who isn’t aware of his fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-deida/a-fearful-man-who-knows-he-is-fearful-is-far-more-trustable-than-a/) [David Deida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-deida/) > [Sometimes we read or hear too much news that makes us fearful or suspicious of others. We can forget that most of the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-clarkson/sometimes-we-read-or-hear-too-much-news-that-makes-us-fearful-or/) [Adrienne Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-clarkson/) > [A lot of people live in fear because they haven't figured out how you're going to react when faced with a certain set of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/a-lot-of-people-live-in-fear-because-they-haven-t-figured-out-how-you/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [For the most part, the best man's spirit makes a fearful sprite to haunt his grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/for-the-most-part-the-best-man-s-spirit-makes-a-fearful-sprite-to/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [If we start with "limits" and a premise of scarcity and fear, it makes us fearful of each other, and that makes us vulnerable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-moore-lapp/if-we-start-with-limits-and-a-premise-of-scarcity-and-fear-it-makes/) [Frances Moore Lappé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-moore-lapp/) > [Oft have I heard that grief softens the mind And makes it fearful and degenerate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/oft-have-i-heard-that-grief-softens-the-mind-and-makes-it-fearful-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“I've always found that a rather unfortunate quirk in our species. Everyone pants towards orgasm without pausing to realise that its merely a biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-ve-always-found-that-a-rather-unfortunate-quirk-in-our-species/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [“You and Galileo,” I said. “Didn’t he throw his balls off the leaning tower?” Quirk Said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/you-and-galileo-i-said-didn-t-he-throw-his-balls-off-the-leaning/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [I try my damnedest to quirk up anything that I'm in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-roberts/i-try-my-damnedest-to-quirk-up-anything-that-i-m-in/) [Dallas Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-roberts/) > [“I like weird. Conformity bores but is inescapable for the most part. We all follow something, even if it is following the goal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-like-weird-conformity-bores-but-is-inescapable-for-the-most-part-we/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [We are a fluke of nature, a quirk of evolution, a glorious contingency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/we-are-a-fluke-of-nature-a-quirk-of-evolution-a-glorious-contingency/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) ## More by Randall Garrett > [“You had to learn to stand up and take it when things got rough, he reminded himself. He blinked and looked into the mirror.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-garrett/you-had-to-learn-to-stand-up-and-take-it-when-things-got-rough-he/) [Randall Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-garrett/) > [Deep inside, the majority of people had the sneaking suspicion that evil was more powerful than good and could be counteracted only by more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-garrett/deep-inside-the-majority-of-people-had-the-sneaking-suspicion-that/) [Randall Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-garrett/) > [“Let me ask you one thing, Tallis," MacMaine said. "Would you do anything in your power to save Keroth from destruction? Anything, no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-garrett/let-me-ask-you-one-thing-tallis-macmaine-said-would-you-do-anything/) [Randall Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-garrett/) > [“The mule,” he was fond of saying, “is as much smarter than a horse as a raven is smarter than a falcon. Neither a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-garrett/the-mule-he-was-fond-of-saying-is-as-much-smarter-than-a-horse-as-a/) [Randall Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-garrett/) [Explore all 5 Randall Garrett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-garrett/) ## More Charms quotes > [“Take time to empower yourself. Delegate tasks so you have time to pamper yourself and invest your energy in what you love. Be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-digeronimo/take-time-to-empower-yourself-delegate-tasks-so-you-have-time-to/) [J.J. DiGeronimo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-digeronimo/) > [Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/charms-strike-the-sight-but-merit-wins-the-soul/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Novelty has charms that our minds can hardly withstand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/novelty-has-charms-that-our-minds-can-hardly-withstand/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [As long as there's the two of us, we've got the world and all its charms. And when the world is through with us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-long-as-there-s-the-two-of-us-we-ve-got-the-world-and-all-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some young people do not sufficiently understand the advantages of natural charms, and how much they would gain by trusting to them entirely. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/some-young-people-do-not-sufficiently-understand-the-advantages-of/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [“Do not all charms fly / At the mere touch of cold philosophy?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-all-charms-fly-at-the-mere-touch-of-cold-philosophy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I shall never more know the sweet homage given to beauty, youth and grace - for never to any else shall I seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/i-shall-never-more-know-the-sweet-homage-given-to-beauty-youth-and/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [I was not always free from melancholy; but even melancholy had its charms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madame-roland/i-was-not-always-free-from-melancholy-but-even-melancholy-had-its/) [Madame Roland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madame-roland/) > [I would not miss your face, your neck, your hands, your limbs, your bosom and certain other of your charms. Indeed, not to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-not-miss-your-face-your-neck-your-hands-your-limbs-your-bosom/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe in all of these Irish myths, like leprechauns. Not the pot of gold, not the Lucky Charms leprechauns. But maybe was there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-believe-in-all-of-these-irish-myths-like-leprechauns-not-the-pot-of/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [It is one of the great charms of books that they have to end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-kermode/it-is-one-of-the-great-charms-of-books-that-they-have-to-end/) [Frank Kermode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-kermode/) > [“I am only a dead Sciomancer, but I must warn you of fire and kisses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lita-burke/i-am-only-a-dead-sciomancer-but-i-must-warn-you-of-fire-and-kisses/) [Lita Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lita-burke/) > [The insane, on occasion, are not without their charms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-insane-on-occasion-are-not-without-their-charms/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I am flippant. That's one of my charms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-o-neal/i-am-flippant-that-s-one-of-my-charms/) [Ryan O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-o-neal/) > [Lucky Charms are fun! Tickle my Lucky Charms...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khloe-kardashian/lucky-charms-are-fun-tickle-my-lucky-charms/) [Khloe Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khloe-kardashian/) Browse all 77 Charms quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There is an odd quirk in the human mind that makes a fearful man prefer to go quietly to a wicked-looking, gnarled \"witch\" for a countercharm than to a respectable licensed sorcerer or an accredited priest of the Church.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Randall Garrett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-garrett/there-is-an-odd-quirk-in-the-human-mind-that-makes-a-fearful-man/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Charms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-garrett/there-is-an-odd-quirk-in-the-human-mind-that-makes-a-fearful-man/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/randall-garrett-59305_charms_there-is-an-odd-quirk-in-the-human-mind_2262984.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/randall-garrett-59305_charms_there-is-an-odd-quirk-in-the-human-mind_2262984.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/randall-garrett-59305_charms_there-is-an-odd-quirk-in-the-human-mind_2262984.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is an odd quirk in the human mind that makes a fearful man prefer to go quietly to a wicked-looking…” — Randall Garrett", "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": "Randall Garrett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-garrett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“There is an odd quirk in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-garrett/there-is-an-odd-quirk-in-the-human-mind-that-makes-a-fearful-man/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-garrett/there-is-an-odd-quirk-in-the-human-mind-that-makes-a-fearful-man/#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 } } ] } ```