a rational man may also be superstitious

i frequently fall prey to superstitious beliefs. for instance, i have avoided buying Ramesh Menon's retelling of the Mahabharata, because of a fear that, once brought home, it will cause fights in the family. or so, goes the old hand-me-down that the Bharata shall not be kept at home. 

or, i try to avoid wearing a bright yellow-strapped watch because i am convinced that the day i wear it i shall spend beyond my means, or a 1940s wristwatch because it would make me angry all day or a slim watch that my sister gifted for fear that it will make me maudlin. as some superstitious poet said, "how do i avoid theee, let me count the ways"