Do “Lucky Numbers” Really Bring Good Luck?

There are people who believe that some numbers bring good luck, while others bring bad luck. For instance, in China the number eight is thought to be lucky. Turning our attention to the West, we find that the number seven is considered lucky, but the number 13 is avoided like the plague.

In spite of all these claims, most people would agree that there is little evidence that numbers have any influence on our lives. In fact, they say, the reverse seems to be the case. For one thing, we might expect calculators to break down every time they note the number 13, and for another, although every week has seven days we know that not every week is lucky for us.

Weighing the pros and cons of these arguments, I am inclined to agree with the latter point of view. It is obvious that there is no scientific basis for the belief that there is a connection between luck and numbers. All in all, it seems to me to be superstition.