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've come to the conclusion that the artist can not justify life or come up with a cogent reason as to why life is meaningful, but the artist can provide you with a cold glass of water on a hot day.
People regard CGI as a gimmick; they almost blame CGI for a bad story or a bad script. They talk about CGI as if it's responsible for a drop in standards.
The daily act of writing remains as demanding and maddening as it was before, and the pleasure you get from writing - rare but profound - remains at the true heart of the enterprise. On their best days, writers all over the world are winning Pulitzers, all alone in their studios, with no one watching.
A writer's heart, a poet's heart, an artist's heart, a musician's heart is always breaking. It is through that broken window that we see the world.
The richness I achieve comes from nature, the source of my inspiration.
Personally I always feel like I could use a little more of poetry apothegmatic power in my own work but we're always lacking something.
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