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Quote by W. Somerset Maugham

Work

The Magician

The Magician is a work of fiction that centers on a protagonist who practices the craft of magic, delving into the complexities of their identity, relationships, and the boundaries between reality and performance. The narrative examines how the pursuit of mastery in illusion shapes the magician's understanding of truth and self, often set against a backdrop of societal expectations and personal ambition. The story may involve elements of mystery, psychological depth, and the interplay between public persona and private struggles, reflecting on the nature of creativity and deception. more

Author

W. Somerset Maugham
W. Somerset Maugham

W. Somerset Maugham was a British playwright known for his sharp wit and insightful portrayal of human nature. Born on January 25, 1874, and passing away on December 16, 1965, Maugham's plays often delved into the complexities of human relationships and the social dynamics of his era. more

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“Whenever imagination strays and is wasted recklessly, when it ceases to fulfil its function of perceiving and producing the symbols that lead to inner intelligence, the mundus imaginalis…may be considered to have disappeared. In the West, this decadence may date back to the moment when Averroism rejected the Avicennian cosmology with its intermediary angelic hierarchy of the Animae or Angeli caelestes. These Angeli caelestes (on a lower rung of the hierarchy than that of the Angeli intellectuales) had in fact the privilege of imaginative power in its purest form. Once the universe of these souls had disappeared, the imaginative function itself was thrown out of joint and devalued. Thus one can understand the warning issued later by Paracelsus, who cautioned against any confusion…with fantasy, that “madman’s corner stone”.”

“Instead of limiting your imagination by current circumstances and constraints, imagine a world in which some key constraints don't exist, and ask yourself how you or your institution might respond.”