Clarke's Third Law/Quotes

""The word 'technology'... means... 'magic'. It's basically anything that's really cool that you don't know how it works. And if it breaks, you have to buy a new one.""

- Strong Bad, Homestar Runner, technology

""You know, Merlin, up until this moment, despite Saint Zherneau's journal and the other documents, I haven't really been able to wrap my head around what you mean when you talk about 'advanced technology.' Maybe that's because I haven't really tried to. I've been too concerned, too focused, on just surviving to really try to imagine what the future--or maybe I should say the past--could have been like. I guess the fact that you're alive, and the incredible things I've seen you do, should have given me a clue, but to be honest, I've still thinking of you like Seijin Kohdy. You're not 'technology,' not something one of Howsmyn's mechanics might've designed or built if they'd only had the right collection of nuts and bolts and the right wrench. You're magic--any ninny could tell that! But now--""

- Cayleb Ahrmahk to Merlin Athrawes, By Heresies Distressed

""The essence of magic is to determine the root cause of all things. There's no distinction between science and magic. The power of magic is like those of science. Meaning, it's at the forefront of the times!""

- Patchouli Knowledge

""If it is distinguishable from magic, it's not advanced enough.""

- Anonymous

""For values of 'turning you into a Magical Girl' equal to 'you having a costume that protects you and operates on principles most people won't understand, and wielding equipment that few on Earth have ever seen, let alone held,' yes, this will turn you into a magical girl!""

- Ryouko Asakura on Kyon's sister request to become a Magical Girl, Kyon: Big Damn Hero

""Come on, Snake! Don't get all grumpy and start talking about how unscientific it is. Science is basically just another form of magic that makes our lives easier. (...) Don't you think talking to someone halfway around the world is a kind of magic? Or flying across entire continents?""

- Mei Ling, on Sheik, Super Smash Bros. Brawl

"Cell phone? You talk in here...and someone far away hears you. No wires. Impossible. Even thirty years ago, this would have belonged in the Library. Three hundred years ago, you would've been burned at the stake for it. Some of the items in the Library violate the known laws of science. But that is only because our brains are so small....we haven't come up with laws...to explain them."

- Mr. Carsen, The Librarian

"One man's "magic" is another man's engineering. "Supernatural" is a null word. "

- Robert A. Heinlein