Topic: Quotes

Message:

Posted by: shawn popp (Aug 4, 2011 2:31pm)

Hello fellow magic enthusiasts,

I am trying to compile a list of quotes about magic for an upcoming project to be released. They can be brief or they can be long. They don't have to be by magicians but rather anything ABOUT or PERTAINING to magic. ie "the most beautiful thing we can experience is the impossible - Einstein" or "confusion is not magic - Vernon" etc.

I would appreciate any of your favorites. Be sure to include the credit if available.

thanks in advance
shawn

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Posted by: jugglestruck (Aug 4, 2011 2:44pm)

"For those who believe, no evidence is necessary, for those who don't, none will suffice."

Joseph Dunninger

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Posted by: jugglestruck (Aug 4, 2011 2:46pm)

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

Arthur C. Clarke

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Posted by: funsway (Aug 4, 2011 4:12pm)

I don't do magic, but it happens all around me and sometimes I get blamed!

faucon of Sakin'el

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Posted by: Jacques (Aug 4, 2011 4:39pm)

Facts + Fairies = Effects
Louis Scutenaire

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Posted by: motown (Aug 4, 2011 9:57pm)

Look below

v
v
v

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Posted by: motown (Aug 4, 2011 10:18pm)

Here's another:

Conjuring is the only truly honest profession - the magician promises to deceive and he does. Carl Germain

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Posted by: motown (Aug 5, 2011 12:36am)

"I can't really do magic. I can only help you see it."
Peter Samelson

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Posted by: Magnus Eisengrim (Aug 5, 2011 12:49am)

From "God is Alive, Magic is Afoot" by Leonard Cohen

God is alive, magic is afoot
God is afoot, magic is alive
Alive is afoot, magic never died
God never sickened
Many poor men lied
Many sick men lied
Magic never weakened
Magic never hid
Magic always ruled
God is afoot, God never died
God was ruler
Though his funeral lengthened
Though his mourners thickened
Magic never fled
Though his shrouds were hoisted
The naked God did live
Though his words were twisted
The naked magic thrived
Though his death was published
Round and round the world
The heart did not believe

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Posted by: Rafael The Master Hypnotist (Aug 5, 2011 1:26am)

"...if you're Good at something, Never do it for Free..." ~ Joker from Batman The Dark Knight

...

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Posted by: Rafael The Master Hypnotist (Aug 5, 2011 1:33am)

The Impossible I do immediately, while create Miracle might take a little longer - David Berglass

...

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Posted by: shawn popp (Aug 5, 2011 3:32am)

These are awesome! Keep em coming guys!

Here's one of my favorites: "With great power comes great responsibility" - uncle Ben

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Posted by: jcards01 (Aug 5, 2011 8:26am)

"The only way to improve a trick is to find a simpler and more direct way of doing it."
Paul LePaul

"...any effect to be successful must first be founded upon a simple method and then be performed with a direct to-the-point presentation."
Theo Annemann

"Genuine magic demands on perfect simplicity of execution."
Jean Hugard

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
Albert Einstein

"If the actions used in performing sleights are visible or even suspected by the onlooker, the whole illusion of magic is destroyed."
Jean Hugard

"Magic is the illusion which is created when a series of natural movements apparently causes an unnatural, or magical, result."
Jean Hugard

"The illusion of magic is an idealistic fantasy; it exists only in the imagination of the spectator."
Paul LePaul

"It is presentation which lifts the card trick from the level of the commonplace puzzle to the status of an unforgettable and inexplicable mystery."
Jean Hugard

"In magic, today as always, the effect is what counts. The method or methods used are always purely secondary."
Dai Vernon

"Magic is the apparent defiance of natural laws. Before magic can become magic, the audience must know that the thing the magician seems to be doing, is, in actuality, impossible."
John Mulholland

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Posted by: motown (Aug 5, 2011 9:05am)

The Magic is You! � Jay Ose

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Posted by: shawn popp (Aug 5, 2011 5:33pm)

Again, thank you!
keep em coming!

shawn

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Posted by: Harry Lorayne (Aug 5, 2011 5:35pm)

Laymen are not fooled by what they see - they're fooled by what they THINK THEY SEE! Harry L.

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Posted by: shawn popp (Aug 5, 2011 5:40pm)

Here's a couple favorites:

"Life without mystery is like a candle with a snuffed out flame" - albert Einstein

"Magicians have God in their hearts and the Devil in their hands" - San Giovanni Bosco

Does anyone have a favorite quote from Expert At the Card Table?

Message:

Posted by: bblumen (Aug 5, 2011 5:42pm)

Quote:

On 2011-08-05 17:35, Harry Lorayne wrote:
Laymen are not fooled by what they see - they're fooled by what they THINK THEY SEE! Harry L.

Thank you, old Grasshoppa!

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Posted by: bblumen (Aug 5, 2011 5:50pm)

Quote:

On 2011-08-05 17:40, Shawn Griffin wrote:

Does anyone have a favorite quote from Expert At the Card Table?

"In offering this book to the public the writer uses no sophistry as an excuse for its existence. The
hypocritical cant of reformed (?) gamblers, or whining, mealymouthed pretensions of piety, are not foisted as a
justification for imparting the knowledge it contains. To all lovers of card games it should prove interesting, and
as a basis of card entertainment it is practically inexhaustible. It may caution the unwary who are innocent of
guile, and it may inspire the crafty by enlightenment on artifice. It may demonstrate to the tyro that he cannot
beat a man at his own game, and it may enable the skilled in deception to take a post-graduate course in the
highest and most artistic branches of his vocation. But it will not make the innocent vicious, or transform the
pastime player into a professional; or make the fool wise, or curtail the annual crop of suckers; but whatever the
result may be, if it sells it will accomplish the primary motive of the author, as he needs the money."

Brian

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Posted by: ClintonMagus (Aug 5, 2011 8:01pm)

"Things are more like they are today than they've ever been before."

"No matter where you go, there you are."

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Posted by: motown (Aug 5, 2011 8:46pm)

"I am an honest liar. I am going to lie to you but that's okay. It's my job." - Jamie Ian Swiss

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Posted by: F�bio DeRose (Aug 5, 2011 9:02pm)

Quote:

On 2011-08-05 20:46, motown wrote:
"(...) It's my job." - Jamie Ian Swiss

"It's my job" is actually Shawn Farquhar signature line. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT, MAN.

Oh, wait. I'm kidding.

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Posted by: motown (Aug 5, 2011 9:44pm)

One of my favorites from the wonderful Al Goshman:

"I'm selling me. I'm selling an image. An image of an overweight, middle-aged letch. That's the image I'm trying to sell and I never get off the basic theme."

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Posted by: Dave Le Fevre (Aug 6, 2011 6:50am)

Never waste a trip to your pocket (Al Goshman)

Someone creates a trick, many people perfect it, but its final success in front of an audience depends on the person who presents it (Ren� Lavand)

People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel (Carl W Buechner)

Magic does not exist in the mechanics of an effect. It exists somewhere between you and the mind of the spectator. We handle the mechanics and present them to the mind and emotions of the spectator. He reacts and the illusion is born. That is magic. (Fr Cyprian)

Many people take exception to me and say that I'm doing black magic and things they can't do at church. But I'm doing magic that started their church. (Tony Andruzzi)

And a few more whose origins I don�t know -

Many of the people who want to be magicians are exactly the sort of people who shouldn't be magicians

Magic results not from the manipulation of objects, but from the manipulation of people's perceptions

Magic is in the mind of the spectator, not in your fingers

A set of actions by one person perceived in a different order by another person can result in the perception of magic

Dave

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Posted by: satellite23 (Aug 6, 2011 8:36am)

Harry Lorayne----"This trick is so good, I gotta see it myself!!!"

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Posted by: motown (Aug 6, 2011 11:25am)

A few from my favorite ad guy --- Bill Bernbach

"The difference between the forgettable and the enduring is artistry."

"An idea can turn to dust or magic, depending on the talent that rubs against it."

"The great mistakes are made when we feel we are beyond questioning."

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Posted by: Harry Lorayne (Aug 6, 2011 11:45am)

Bblumen: I'm sure everyone else understands your referring to me as "Old Grasshoppa" but I sure don't. Would you be kind enough to explain it to me?

Message:

Posted by: bblumen (Aug 6, 2011 3:27pm)

Quote:

On 2011-08-06 11:45, Harry Lorayne wrote:
Bblumen: I'm sure everyone else understands your referring to me as "Old Grasshoppa" but I sure don't. Would you be kind enough to explain it to me?

You are Master Po.

Message:

Posted by: Jonathan Townsend (Aug 6, 2011 3:34pm)

Quote:

On 2011-08-04 14:46, jugglestruck wrote:
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

Arthur C. Clarke

Check the context on that one. He was being facetious.

Message:

Posted by: motown (Aug 6, 2011 5:46pm)

Harry, do you remember Kung Fu?

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Posted by: motown (Aug 6, 2011 9:27pm)

"To those who question whether clarity is all that important, I can only say that it is the most important quality in the making of a film."
--- Francois Truffaut

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Posted by: gmeister (Aug 6, 2011 10:14pm)

Quote:

On 2011-08-05 00:49, Magnus Eisengrim wrote:
From "God is Alive, Magic is Afoot" by Leonard Cohen

God is alive, magic is afoot
God is afoot, magic is alive
Alive is afoot, magic never died
God never sickened
Many poor men lied
Many sick men lied
Magic never weakened
Magic never hid
Magic always ruled
God is afoot, God never died
God was ruler
Though his funeral lengthened
Though his mourners thickened
Magic never fled
Though his shrouds were hoisted
The naked God did live
Though his words were twisted
The naked magic thrived
Though his death was published
Round and round the world
The heart did not believe

Bravo! Maximus Bravo!

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Posted by: gmeister (Aug 6, 2011 10:17pm)

"That willing suspension of disbelief for the moment, which constitutes poetic faith."

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

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Posted by: motown (Aug 7, 2011 10:25am)

"Suspense, which is the most powerful means of holding onto the viewer's attention."
---Alfred Hitchcock

"One may disbelieve with his mind yet still believe with his blood."
---Edward Wagenknecht

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Posted by: Harry Lorayne (Aug 7, 2011 4:40pm)

Boy, am I glad I can write so that anyone can understand me! I asked bblumen to explain his "grasshoppa" remark. He responded with something like "master po." I simply have no idea as to what he is talking about. I sure would like to. Just as I'd like to understand someone else's post re: "Kung Fu". What in the world are these people talking about??!! Again, thank God I can write so that all can understand!

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Posted by: motown (Aug 7, 2011 11:31pm)

Harry I was trying to help you understand the reference to grasshoppa and Master Po. It comes from the old Kung Fu TV show starring Keith Caradine. Master Po to young student...Grasshopper, when you can snatch this pebble from my hand you will be ready. Hope that helps.

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Posted by: motown (Aug 7, 2011 11:34pm)

"The art of the storyteller and the art of the magician have much in common. With both the appeal is to the imagination."

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Posted by: Harry Lorayne (Aug 8, 2011 1:21pm)

Not really, motown, but thanks for trying. I just don't see the connection and, quite frankly, I doubt if bblumen does. He rarely knows what the heck he's talking about. And if he does, he sure can't write it so that people - at least I - can understand it. So, I still have no idea of what kind of point or points he was trying to make, if any. But, not a problem, not the first time.

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Posted by: motown (Aug 8, 2011 10:28pm)

"I always take the audience into account." ---Alfred Hitchcock

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Posted by: panlives (Aug 9, 2011 9:47am)

�In baiting a mouse trap with cheese, always leave room for the mouse.�
~Saki

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Posted by: Patrick Differ (Aug 31, 2011 12:12am)

"These are Bicycle cards. Now I'll take you for a ride."
"These are BEE cards. That's why you get stung."
"Good magic is fish. If it's fresh, it's good. If it's stale, it's bad. If you're not sure, try it on the cat."
"There is only one word in America that can explain all this, and that one word is 'you never know'".
"We read the world wrong, and say that it deceives us."
"Sell your cleverness, and buy bewilderment."
"Why do you heckle me? For all you know, I could be your father."

And my personal favorite:
"Voyager, there are no bridges; one builds them as one walks."

L. Ifayeknow.

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Posted by: Mick Ayres (Oct 30, 2011 9:15pm)

"It's kinda fun to do the impossible." ---Walt Disney

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Posted by: tomsk192 (Oct 31, 2011 3:25pm)

Quote:

On 2011-08-08 13:21, Harry Lorayne wrote:
Not really, motown, but thanks for trying. I just don't see the connection and, quite frankly, I doubt if bblumen does. He rarely knows what the heck he's talking about. And if he does, he sure can't write it so that people - at least I - can understand it. So, I still have no idea of what kind of point or points he was trying to make, if any. But, not a problem, not the first time.

He is comparing you to a blind Kung Fu master, played in the TV show (starring DAVID Carradine) by Keye Luke. The character is a master of technique and a source of wisdom to the young protagonist. I imagine it was meant as a back-handed compliment.

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Posted by: charliewerner (Nov 9, 2011 9:24pm)

"Bend Bend Bend" Uri Geller.

"I was about five years old when I was eating soup in our kitchen, and as I was lifting the spoon towards my mouth, it bent and broke in half."
Uri Geller

"If you don't enjoy practicing, take up some other hobby..." Dai Vernon.