Archive

Quotes

The mind is led on, step by step, to defeat its own logic.

—Dai Vernon, 1994

Men willingly believe what they wish.

—Julius Caesar, c. 50 BC

Any serious attempt to do anything worthwhile is ritualistic.

—Derek Walcott, 1986

There are times when reality becomes too complex for oral communication. But legend gives it a form by which it pervades the whole world.

—Jean-Luc Godard, 1965

To blow and to swallow at the same time is not easy; I cannot at the same time be here and also there.

—Plautus, c. 200 BC

Everything is a miracle. It is a miracle that one does not dissolve in one’s bath like a lump of sugar.

—Pablo Picasso, 1929

The Mughal’s nature is such that they demand miracles, but if a miracle were to be performed by some upright follower of our religion, they would say that it had been brought about by magic and sorcery. They would strike him down with spears or would stone him to death.

—Fr. Antonio Monserrate, 1590

Curses are like young chickens, they always come home to roost.

—Robert Southey, 1809

Once something becomes discernible, or understandable, we no longer need to repeat it. We can destroy it.

—Robert Wilson, 1991

Egypt was the mother of magicians.

—Clement of Alexandria, c. 200

Disbelief in magic can force a poor soul into believing in government and business.

—Tom Robbins, 1976

I shall curse you with book and bell and candle.

—Thomas Malory, c. 1470

In the past, men created witches; now they create mental patients.

—Thomas Szasz, 1970