William Frederick Poole, (1869). Cotton Mather and Salem Witchcraft. Cambridge: University Press: Welch, Bigelow, & Co. p. 67.
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If anyone imagines that we are stating the case too strongly, let him try an experiment with the first bright boy he meets by asking,... 'Who got up Salem Witchcraft?'... he will reply, 'Cotton Mather'. Let him try another boy... 'Who was Cotton Mather?' and the answer will come, 'The man who was on horseback, and hung witches.'
— William Frederick Poole
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "If anyone imagines that we are stating the case too strongly, let him try an experiment with the first bright boy he meets by asking,... 'Who got up Salem Witchcraft?'... he will reply, 'Cotton Mather'. Let him try another boy... 'Who was Cotton Mather?' and the answer will come, 'The man who was on horseback, and hung witches.'" in the context of "William Frederick Poole, (1869). Cotton Mather and Salem Witchcraft. Cambridge: University Press: Welch, Bigelow, & Co. p. 67." to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Cotton Mather" (About Cotton Mather)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
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About Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather (February 12, 1663 – February 13, 1728), A.B. 1678 (Harvard College), A.M. 1681; honorary doctorate 1710 (University of Glasgow), was a socially and politically influential New England Puritan minister, prolific author and pamphleteer.
About Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather (February 12, 1663 – February 13, 1728), A.B. 1678 (Harvard College), A.M. 1681; honorary doctorate 1710 (University of Glasgow), was a socially and politically influential New England Puritan minister, prolific author and pamphleteer.
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