Machiavelli, Discourses, Book I, Chapter 56.
When great calamities befall a city or country, signs and portents precede them.
No kidding.
Very interesting speculations on natural or supernatural sources of same.
Is the very air filled with intelligent beings who foresee the future and warn men out of pity?
Unsure of that, he is certain warnings are given and such portents are always followed by disaster.
And that calls to mind that as to ordinary matters of fact we believe what many believe and none we respect deny.
And we disbelieve what none we respect will affirm.
Russell was not quite right when he said the natural human response to anyone's affirmation of anything is belief.
But he was close.
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