The magician and the politician have much in common: they both have to draw our attention away from what they are really doing.

Quote by Ben Okri

Topics: Ben Okri Quotes

I lived rough, by my wits, was homeless, lived on the streets, lived on friends'...

I lived rough, by my wits, was homeless, lived on the streets, lived on friends'...

The worst realities of our age are manufactured realities. It is therefore our task, as...

The worst realities of our age are manufactured realities. It is therefore our task, as...

Politics is the art of the possible; creativity is the art of the impossible.

Politics is the art of the possible; creativity is the art of the impossible.

I was going to be a scientist.

I was going to be a scientist.

We plan our lives according to a dream that came to us in our childhood,...

We plan our lives according to a dream that came to us in our childhood,...

The fact of storytelling hints at a fundamental human unease, hints at human imperfection. Where...

The fact of storytelling hints at a fundamental human unease, hints at human imperfection. Where...

Magic becomes art when it has nothing to hide.

Magic becomes art when it has nothing to hide.

The acknowledged legislators of the world take the world as given. They dislike mysteries, for...

The acknowledged legislators of the world take the world as given. They dislike mysteries, for...

You see, I was told stories, we were all told stories as kids in Nigeria....

You see, I was told stories, we were all told stories as kids in Nigeria....

Our time here is magic! It's the only space you have to realize whatever it...

Our time here is magic! It's the only space you have to realize whatever it...

Don't despair too much if you see beautiful things destroyed, if you see them perish....

Don't despair too much if you see beautiful things destroyed, if you see them perish....

We plan our lives according to a dream that came to us in our childhood,...

We plan our lives according to a dream that came to us in our childhood,...

The greatest religions convert the world through stories.

The greatest religions convert the world through stories.

If there is anything better than to be loved it is loving.

If there is anything better than to be loved it is loving.

We have fallen into this very mean description of humanity. Naturalism in fiction is too...

We have fallen into this very mean description of humanity. Naturalism in fiction is too...

Reading, like writing, is a creative act. If readers only bring a narrow range of...

Reading, like writing, is a creative act. If readers only bring a narrow range of...

Politics is the art of the possible; creativity is the art of the impossible.

Politics is the art of the possible; creativity is the art of the impossible.

The prerequisite of originality is the art of forgetting, at the proper moment, what we...

The prerequisite of originality is the art of forgetting, at the proper moment, what we...

Necessity is the mother of invention, it is true, but its father is creativity, and...

Necessity is the mother of invention, it is true, but its father is creativity, and...

But, if you have nothing at all to create, then perhaps you create yourself.

But, if you have nothing at all to create, then perhaps you create yourself.