"Magic has been confounded too long with the jugglery of mountebanks, the hallucinations of disordered minds and the crimes of certain unusual malefactors. There are otherwise many who would promptly explain Magic as the art of producing effects in the absence of causes; and on the strength of such a definition it will be said by ordinary people -- with the good sense which characterises the ordinary, in the midst of much injustice -- that Magic is an absurdity. But it can have no analogy in fact with the descriptions of those who know nothing of the subject; furthermore, it is not to be represented as this or that by any person whomsoever; it is that which it is, drawing from itself only, even as mathematics do, for it is the exact and absolute science of Nature and her laws."
-- Eliphas Levi, The History of Magic (Including A Clear And Precise Exposition Of Its Procedure, Its Rites And Its Mysteries), 1860 (translated by A.E. Waite, 1913)
Do you know the wonderful book, the Man Who Was Magic, written in the 50's or 60's by Paul Gallico, my favorite author as a young girl? Maybe Jane might like it....this posting so reminds me of it! Davia
ReplyDeleteI do not know this book, but will learn about it and share it with Jane immediately. Hope you weathered the snowstorm well and had a very good New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Ours was enjoyable and unexpected. Whatever else may be the case, we're not in any sort of rut. Curtis
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