Most "witches" were hanged, rather than the burning at the stake of popular imagination.

多数“女巫”被绞死了，胜过通常想象的绑在树桩上烧死。

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We usually associate heretic with religion, namely, the Roman Catholic Church: Inquisition, burning people at the stake, etc.

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But with respect to the latter the burning of witches at the stake ended when the authorities stopped gratifying that desire.

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Forget the idea of burning unsuccessful but honest executives and entrepreneurs at the stake.

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