Magic Versus Science/Quotes

The serious magical endeavor and the serious scientific endeavor are twins: one was sickly and died, the other was strong and throve. But they are twins. They were born of the same impulse. ...

There is something which unites magic and applied science while separating both from the "wisdom" of the earlier ages. For the wise men of old, the cardinal problem had been how to conform the soul to reality, and the solution had been knowledge, self-discipline, and virtue. For magic and applied science alike the problem is how to subdue reality to the wishes of men: the solution is a technique; and both, in the practice of this technique, are ready to do things hitherto regarded as disgusting and impious.

—CS Lewis, The Abolition of Man

"With magic, you can turn a frog into a prince. With science, you can turn a frog into a Ph.D and you still have the frog you started with."

—Terry Pratchett

Dr. Venture: Either way I'm just not impressed with your tricks.
Dr. Orpheus: Tricks?! How dare you! With just a thought I could rise into the air!
Dr. Venture: Or you could put on these anti-gravity boots.
Dr. Orpheus: I could incinerate this entire lab! Make you believe that you are a very special episode of Blossom! And shoot lightning from my hands!!

Dr. Venture: Ooohh. Laser ray, mind-control helmet, Tesla coil. Anything else?

—The Venture Brothers

"Magic must defeat magic!!"

—Uncle Chan whenever Cap. Black suggests using his state-of-the-art military team to help defeat the magic-based villians.

"What? Come on, magic is just something that hasn't been explained yet."

—Kat, Gunnerkrigg Court

"This one is machine and nerve
And has its mind concluded.
This one is but flesh and faith

And is the more deluded."

—Gravemind, Halo

"Save legends for literature class, Llamaviva. In science class, we work with facts"

—Leonardo Davín, Cinco Elementos

"Magic is just the idiot's word for science. Science relies on tested facts, not prattling nonsense. Now stand over there while I power up my neural diatomic wavelength nullifier."

—Dr. Shark, The Non Adventures of Wonderella