"The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses"
- Francis Bacon
About this Quote
This quote by Francis Bacon is a commentary on the human tendency to concentrate on the successes of a specific action or event, while disregarding the failures. He suggests that this tendency is the root of superstitious notion, as people tend to attribute success to a particular action or event, and after that duplicate it in the hopes of achieving the same result. This is a kind of superstitious notion, as it is based on the belief that a specific action or event will bring about a desired result, with no real proof to support it. Bacon's quote is a reminder that we ought to take note of both successes and failures, and not just focus on the successes, as this can cause superstitious beliefs. By comprehending the successes and failures of a particular action or event, we can get a better understanding of the underlying causes and make more educated choices.
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