The believer in magic and miracles reflects on how to impose a law on nature—and, in brief, the religious cult is the outcome of this reflection.

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

There is not so contemptible a plant or animal that does not confound the most enlarged understanding.

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.

The subconscious is ceaselessly murmuring, and it is by listening to these murmurs that one hears the truth.

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

The fear of the Lord is true wisdom, and he who hath it not can in no way penetrate the true secrets of magic.

In the society of men, the truth resides now less in what things are than in what they are not. Our social realities are so ugly if seen in the light of exiled truth, and beauty is almost no longer possible if it is not a lie.

The more enlightened our houses are, the more their walls ooze ghosts.

God is alive. Magic is afoot.

Nothing is so easy as to deceive one’s self; for what we wish, that we readily believe.

I shall curse you with book and bell and candle.

Man is always a wizard to man, and the social world is at first magical.