Archive

Quotes

Any serious attempt to do anything worthwhile is ritualistic.

—Derek Walcott, 1986

I shall curse you with book and bell and candle.

—Thomas Malory, c. 1470

Appearances often are deceiving.

—Aesop, c. 550 BC

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

—Robert Wilson, 1991

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

—Abraham the Jew, c. 1400

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

—Demosthenes, 349 BC

All things are filled full of signs, and it is a wise man who can learn about one thing from another.

—Plotinus, c. 255

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

—Tom Robbins, 1976

Superstitions are habits rather than beliefs.

—Marlene Dietrich, 1962

Nothing from nothing ever yet was born.

—Lucretius, c. 58 BC

The fact is certain because it is impossible.

—Tertullian, c. 200

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

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

—Dai Vernon, 1994