“The house of delusions is cheap to build but drafty to live in, and ready at any instant to fall.”

I think that's the motto hanging over the Fed's, the media's, Congress', and all other political body's front and back door.

Delusion is caused by failed expectations. Children and young people find the world new and exciting. The deluded are the old burnt out ones. The old folks find every thing to be tacky or sordid but the youth have no such qualms about the world around them.

Yes, just stand in the corridors of the White House and you will soon get a cold.

True for governments, religions, and individuals. The truth can appear expensive even though it is free -- the lie appears cheap but with hidden costs (you get what you pay for...)

I disagree. The house of delusions is very expensive to those who have to pay for them. The builders, however, do the building on someone else's dime and seldom actually live in those houses themselves.

Anyone that is able to think for themselves, has their eyes wide open, and sees how it is, but knows how it should, and could be, is deluded. He sees that it is all an illusion. The horse with blinders on only sees the carrot on the stick, and is content to pursue that which it will never get. You press foward, but it is always the same distance away.

Waffler, failed expectations are caused by delusions. You are full of delusions Robert.

I think the quote is from an "Introductory Lecture" which Housman delivered on October 3, 1892 at University College, London. The full quote runs as follows: “The house of delusions is cheap to build, but draughty to live in, and ready at any instant to fall.”

Thanks, Jack from Brussels. The quote has been updated. Cheers.

Tyrants build houses of "delusions" causing the children to wander. 
Relaxed morality creating errors in judgement !

I must take responsibility for my own delusions.  Con artists succeed by catering to my own misconceptions and base desires.  I have to admit that I do not know everything and can be taken advantage of due to my own 'misconceptions' of which I am completely unaware.  Once I 'buy' the delusion, and am vested in it, the less likely I will want to drop it even as evidence begins to pile up.  The only solution to delusion is turning around...

Ready to fall in an instant, and aren't some of our species most cherished beliefs thousands of years old, and a pure steadfast delusion?