- Published: January 22, 2022
- Updated: January 22, 2022
- University / College: Johns Hopkins University
- Language: English
- Downloads: 43
When you really think about it, of course Harry Houdini died on Halloween. What other date could have been more appropriate for the mind-boggling magician, master escape artist, and accomplished aviator (he got his license to pilot an airplane just a couple years after the Wright brothers invented the damn thing).
The Hungarian-born superstar died, at 52, from acute appendicitis on Oct. 31, 1926, which was no doubt aggravated by a interest in challenging the fitness freak’s claim that his stomach could always take a punch before his final performance in Michigan. The following are some of this modern-day wizard’s many words of wisdom.
On his craft
“ What the eyes see and the ears hear, the mind believes.”
On his magical melon
“ My brain is the key that sets my mind free.”
On Kardashian-levels of fame
“ It is still an open question, however, as to what extent exposure really injures a performer.”
Related:
On calling out so-called spiritualists
“ I am Houdini and you are a fraud!”
On fad diets
“ The eating of burning brimstone is an entirely fake performance.”
On his greatest escape
“ The greatest escape I ever made was when I left Appleton, Wis.”
On attracting a crowd
” The easiest way to attract a crowd is to let it be known that at a given time and a given place someone is going to attempt something that in the event offailurewill mean sudden death.”
Related:
On mission statements
“ My chief task has been to conquer fear.”
On the power of positive (and magical!) thinking
“ I am a great admirer of mystery and magic. Look at this life — all mystery and magic.”
His last words
“ I’m tired of fighting.”
he said he’d reveal, in a séance, to his wife so that she could determine the legitimacy of a spiritualist:
“ BELIEVE.”
