To Rebel Against A Powerful Political, Economic, Religious, Or Social
Estab- Lishment Is Very Dangerous And Very Few People Do It, Except,
Perhaps, As Part Of A Mob.
To rebel against a powerful political, economic, religious, or social
estab- lishment is very dangerous and very few people do it, except,
perhaps, as part of a mob. To rebel against the scientific establishment,
however, is the easiest thing in the world, and anyone can do it and
feel enormously brave, without risking as much as a hangnail. Thus,
the vast majority, who believe in astrology and think that the planets
have nothing better to do than form a code that will tell them whether
tomorrow is a good day to close a business deal or not, become all
the more excited and enthusiastic about the bilge when a group of
astronomers denounces it.
-- Isaac Asimov
Wizards are constantly subject to negative publicity. A case in point. One
elderly wizard of my acquaintance, whenever he was bothered by unexpected
guests, would immediately cast one of three spells upon them, either turning
them to stone, transforming them into segmented worms, or blasting them
entirely out of the kingdom....
