In "A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America," author Stacy Schiff explores the era's perceptions of the impossible. A striking comparison is drawn between the common belief in witches flying on broomsticks and the more intellectual notion of philosophers propelled by a bag of smoke. Both ideas were considered ludicrous and far-fetched at the time, highlighting the tension between superstition and enlightenment thinking.

This juxtaposition serves to illustrate how far-fetched concepts were entertained in society, reflecting the cultural climate of a period ripe for transformation. Schiff's narrative reveals how these contrasting views shaped the dialogue around progress and innovation during a pivotal time in history, emphasizing the complexities of belief and imagination in the age of enlightenment.