James Randi: Escapology has one thing going for it that probably made...

Those who believe without reason cannot be convinced by reason.

James Randi

convinced reason believe

A lot of people hate my skepticism, and I think I understand why. The psychics offer wonders and endless possibilities in a world that often seems difficult and mundane. They promise health, wealth, wisdom, eternal life. But if you examine the record, it's not the psychics but the hard-nosed scientists who have actually delivered the things that improve human life. And, to me, science describes a world far more interesting than any psychic fantasy. It's a good world -- not perfect -- but it's ours. So we'd better learn to live with it, the way it is.

James Randi

psychics hate thinking

There exists in society a very special class of persons that I have always referred to as the Believers. These are folks who have chosen to accept a certain religion, philosophy, theory, idea or notion and cling to that belief regardless of any evidence that might, for anyone else, bring it into doubt. They are the ones who encourage and support the fanatics and the frauds of any given age. No amount of evidence, no matter how strong, will bring them any enlightenment. They are the sheep who beg to be fleeced and butchered, and who will battle fiercely to preserve their right to be victimized.

James Randi

strong class philosophy

Expose every belief to the light of reason, discourse, facts, scientific observations; question everything, be sceptical because this is the only chance at life you will ever get.

James Randi

chance light facts

No matter how smart or well-educated you are, you can be deceived.

James Randi

educated smart matter

Blind belief can be comforting, but it can easily cripple reason and productivity, and stop intellectual progress.

James Randi

blind-belief intellectual comforting

Magicians are the most honest people in the world; they tell you they're gonna fool you, and then they do it.

James Randi

fool people world

There is a distinct difference between having an open mind and having a hole in your head from which your brain leaks out.

James Randi

differences mind brain

Religion is based upon blind faith supported by no evidence. Science is based upon confidence that results from evidence - and that confidence can be modified and/or reversed by further observations and experimentation. Science approaches truth, closer and closer, by hard dedicated work. Religion already has it all decided, and it's in the book. It's dogma, unchangeable, and unaffected by reality and whatever facts we come upon in the real world.

James Randi

atheism real book

We owe it to our kids to inform them and train them how to think, not what to think.

James Randi

train kids thinking

Everyone who believes in telekinesis, raise my hand.

James Randi

raises believe hands

Science is best defined as a careful, disciplined, logical search for knowledge about any and all aspects of the universe, obtained by examination of the best available evidence and always subject to correction and improvement upon discovery of better evidence. What's left is magic. And it doesn't work.

James Randi

discovery science knowledge

No amount of belief makes something a fact.

James Randi

faith life religion

People who are smart get into Mensa. People who are really smart look around and leave.

James Randi

intelligence smart people

To make sure that my blasphemy is thoroughly expressed, I hereby state my opinion that the notion of a god is a basic superstition, that there is no evidence for the existence of any god(s), that devils, demons, angels and saints are myths, that there is no life after death, heaven nor hell, that the Pope is a dangerous, bigoted, medieval dinosaur, and that the Holy Ghost is a comic-book character worthy of laughter and derision.

James Randi

laughter character book

The only difference is that religion is much better organized and has been around much longer, but it's the same story with different characters and different costumes.

James Randi

differences different character

There was a small boy on crutches. I do not know his name, and I suspect I never will. But I will never forget his face, his smile, his sorrow. He is one of the millions robbed of hope and dignity by charlatans discussed in this book. Wherever and whoever he is, I apologize to him for not having been able to protect him from such an experience. I humbly dedicate this book to him and to the many others who have suffered because the rest of us began caring too late.

James Randi

caring boys book

I am in a very peculiar business: I travel all over the world telling people what they should already know.

James Randi

atheism peculiar people

Science is a search for basic truths about the Universe, a search which develops statements that appear to describe how the Universe works, but which are subject to correction, revision, adjustment, or even outright rejection, upon the presentation of better or conflicting evidence.

James Randi

revision evidence rejection

... We in the USA have been depending on prayers, pleading, and self-abasement to a deity to bring us magical advantages, and have been encouraged to attribute our prosperity and general success among nations, to that sort of action. In my opinion, hard work and dedication to logic and reason ought to be recognized as the reasons for our achievements, not appeals to a mythical friend-in-the-sky. We got where we are in spite of, not because of, those incantations.

James Randi

dedication hard-work prayer

Escapology has one thing going for it that probably made Harry Houdini such a superstar in his day and a legend in the present. Everyone wants to escape from something. Taxes, contracts, illness, work, the multitude of burdens that we chafe under are shadows from which we want to escape.