Debunked Myths
Myth:
Nostradamus predicted 9/11 and Hitler.
The Truth Is:
His vague verses fit anything! People match them to events after they happen—it's hindsight, not prediction.
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What We Know Now:
The 16th-century astrologer wrote 942 poetic quatrains so ambiguous they can apply to countless events. His 'predictions' demonstrate hindsight bias and the Barnum effect—our tendency to accept vague statements as personally meaningful. For example, 'Hister' often gets linked to Hitler, but it actually referred to the Danube region.
His verses lack specific names, dates, and locations. Any apparent accuracy comes from interpreters bending his words to fit historical events long after they occurred. His reputation grew when Catherine de' Medici appointed him as her astrologer.
Nostradamus's enduring appeal lies in our desire to believe the future is knowable and chaos has patterns. He didn't predict the future; he provided a Rorschach test for our fears. His vague prophecies let people see what they want to see, proving the power of interpretation over actual foresight.
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