A miracle entails a degree of irrationality—not because it shocks reason, but because it makes no appeal to it.
—Emmanuel Lévinas, 1952Quotes
All things are filled full of signs, and it is a wise man who can learn about one thing from another.
—Plotinus, c. 255Nothing from nothing ever yet was born.
—Lucretius, c. 58 BCThe fact is certain because it is impossible.
—Tertullian, c. 200Nothing is so easy to fake as the inner vision.
—Robertson Davies, 1985Nothing worth knowing can be understood with the mind.
—Woody Allen, 1979Everything that deceives does so by casting a spell.
—Plato, c. 375 BCDisbelief in magic can force a poor soul into believing in government and business.
—Tom Robbins, 1976Watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.
—Roald Dahl, 1990Superstitions are habits rather than beliefs.
—Marlene Dietrich, 1962Many are the wonders of the world, and none so wonderful as man.
—Sophocles, c. 441 BCOnce something becomes discernible, or understandable, we no longer need to repeat it. We can destroy it.
—Robert Wilson, 1991To ensure the adoration of a theorem for any length of time, faith is not enough; a police force is needed as well.
—Albert Camus, 1951