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Magic becomes art when it has nothing to hide.
Ben Okri
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Art reveals truth and authenticity without concealment.

This quote highlights the idea that true art transcends mere tricks or illusions; it embodies honesty and openness. When magic, which often implies deception or illusion, is expressed as art, it transforms into something profound and genuine, revealing deeper truths rather than hiding behind façades.

Themes

ArtTruthMagicHonestyCreativity

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in an art class to inspire students about the authenticity in their work.

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Our time here is magic! It's the only space you have to realize whatever it is that is beautiful, whatever is true, whatever is great, whatever is potential, whatever is rare, whatever is unique, in. It's the only space.
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Don't despair too much if you see beautiful things destroyed, if you see them perish. Because the best things are always growing in secret.
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I began my writing life as a poet, so poetry has always been fundamental. I evolved from poetry to journalism to stories to novels. But poetry was always there.
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The acknowledged legislators of the world take the world as given. They dislike mysteries, for mysteries cannot be coded, or legislated, and wonder cannot be made into law. And so these legislators police the accepted frontiers of things.
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We can still astonish the gods in humanity_x000D_ _x000D_ And be the stuff of future legends,_x000D_ _x000D_ If we but dare to be real,_x000D_ _x000D_ And have the courage to see_x000D_ _x000D_ That this is the time to dream_x000D_ _x000D_ The best dream of them all.
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