Everything that deceives does so by casting a spell.
—Plato, c. 375 BCQuotes
Everything is a miracle. It is a miracle that one does not dissolve in one’s bath like a lump of sugar.
—Pablo Picasso, 1929Men willingly believe what they wish.
—Julius Caesar, c. 50 BCThe 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, 1590Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.
—Saint Augustine, c. 400God is alive. Magic is afoot.
—Leonard Cohen, 1966I shall curse you with book and bell and candle.
—Thomas Malory, c. 1470In the past, men created witches; now they create mental patients.
—Thomas Szasz, 1970On no other stage are the scenes shifted with a swiftness so like magic as on the great stage of history when once the hour strikes.
—Edward Bellamy, 1888The subconscious is ceaselessly murmuring, and it is by listening to these murmurs that one hears the truth.
—Gaston Bachelard, 1960Once something becomes discernible, or understandable, we no longer need to repeat it. We can destroy it.
—Robert Wilson, 1991Disbelief in magic can force a poor soul into believing in government and business.
—Tom Robbins, 1976Superstitions are habits rather than beliefs.
—Marlene Dietrich, 1962