Legendary scientist Sir Isaac Newton, the man who discovered gravity, was once trapped in the invisible pull of fear and greed.
In 1720, London buzzed with the promise of the South Sea Company — shares soared wildly, luring nobles, merchants, even the King himself.
Newton invested early and wisely. When the price doubled, he sold — walking away with a 100% profit. For a moment, he believed he had outsmarted the market.
But the mania only grew. His friends and acquaintances kept getting richer. The temptation was irresistible. Newton returned — this time committing a far larger sum.
And then came the collapse. The South Sea Bubble burst. Prices crashed almost overnight. Fortunes were wiped out. Newton himself lost about £20,000 — worth millions today.
Shaken, he sighed:
“I can calculate the motions of heavenly bodies… but not the madness of men.”
Cycles of fear and greed are stronger than any formula — stronger even than gravity.
