Quotes from Charles Charles Mackay

his temper was so impetuous, his indolence so invincible, and his vicious habits so deeply rooted, that he made no progress.

Here lies she who never lied; Whose skill often has been tried: Her prophecies shall still survive, And ever keep her name alive.

Young man, if I could as easily wipe from my conscience the stain of killing you, as I can this spittle from my face, you should not live another minute.

Besides the sylphs, gnomes, undines, and salamanders, he acknowledged various ranks and orders of demons.

he found the most experienced leaders of the age at the head of armies that had just fanaticism enough to be ferocious, but not enough to render them ungovernable.

And thus ended the third Crusade, less destructive of human life than the two first, but quite as useless.

During seasons of great pestilence men have often believed the prophecies of crazed fanatics, that the end of the world was come. Credulity is always greatest in times of calamity

St. Gregory of Nice relates a story of a nun who forgot to say her benedicite, and make the sign of the cross, before she sat down to supper, and who, in consequence, swallowed a demon concealed among the leaves of a lettuce.

whose foundation, being fraud, illusion, credulity, and infatuation, fell to the ground as soon as the artful management of its directors was discovered.

Every age has its peculiar folly—some scheme, project, or phantasy into which it plunges, spurred on either by the love of gain, the necessity of excitement, or the mere force of imitation.

The English commenced their career of extravagance somewhat later than the French; but as soon as the delirium seized them, they were determined not to be outdone.