I love amazing people. I love dazzling them. That's why I think performing magic is one of the greatest things a person can do.
Interpretation
Performing magic allows one to create wonder and joy in others, showcasing a love for people and creativity.
In this quote, Ricky Jay expresses his passion for magic and the joy it brings not only to himself but also to those who witness it. He sees performing magic as an extraordinary art form that empowers individuals to dazzle and inspire, reinforcing the notion that making others feel amazed is one of the most valuable contributions one can offer to the world.
In practice
During a talent show, I shared this quote to inspire others to pursue their passions in performance arts.
Dai Vernon, the greatest sleight of hand figure in the history of the art, rarely performed. But he invented magic and had an enormous influence on the whole range of sleight of hand. And so often, the magic he was doing was to fool other magicians.
I'm much more interested in lesser-known eccentrics and characters and performers. Like Matthew Buchinger, who was born in Germany in 1674, had no arms or legs and yet did magic, and had 14 kids, and made the most extraordinary calligraphy.
For me, the most exciting thing is to create good magic that's entertaining for an audience, and it would be lovely if a magician was fooled as well.
Like every art form, there are jealousies and angers and competitiveness in magic. But there's camaraderie among magicians, whether you perform it for a living or you're an enthusiast.
I grew up like Athena β covered with playing cards instead of armor β and, at the age of seven, materialized on a TV show, doing magic.
I started out as a poet. I've always been a poet since I was 7 or 8. And so I feel myself to be fundamentally a poet who got into writing novels.
My aim in painting has always been the most exact transcription possible of my most intimate impression of nature.
Then the voices of the Ainur, like unto harps and lutes, and pipes and trumpets, and viols and organs, and like unto countless choirs singing with words, began to fashipn the theme of Iluvatar to a great music; and a sound arose of endless interchanging melodies woven in harmony that passed beyond hearing into the depths and into the heights, and the places of the dwelling of Iluvatar were filled to overflowing, and the music and the echo of the music went out into the Void, and it was not void.
Acting is standing up naked and turning around very slowly.
It was only until I started to be myself that the music started to flow and people started to listen. So, thank you guys...
I originally wanted to embrace the imagery and forthrightness of rap music. There are some interesting, dynamic voices in rap. But I find most of it irresponsible in its overt violence and commercialization of anger. As artists, we believe we can will action through language. If that's the case, we have to take responsibility for what we say.
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