--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not unusual for the eye or ear to…" description: "\"It is not unusual for the eye or ear to play tricks with one, but when such illusions and delusions are taken for the Spirit forms of the departed and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/098/harry-houdini-12485_delusions_it-is-not-unusual-for-the-eye-or-ear-to_2570973.jpg" --- # It is not unusual for the eye or ear to play tricks with… ![“It is not unusual for the eye or ear to play tricks with one, but when such illusions and delusions are taken for the Spirit forms of the departed and voices of the dead instead of being recognized as some subjective phenomena brought about by a physical cause, the situation takes on a grave aspect.” quote by Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/098/harry-houdini-12485_delusions_it-is-not-unusual-for-the-eye-or-ear-to_2570973.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/098/harry-houdini-12485_delusions_it-is-not-unusual-for-the-eye-or-ear-to_2570973.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/098/harry-houdini-12485_delusions_it-is-not-unusual-for-the-eye-or-ear-to_2570973.jpg) > “It is not unusual for the eye or ear to play tricks with one, but when such illusions and delusions are taken for the Spirit forms of the departed and voices of the dead instead of being recognized as some subjective phenomena brought about by a physical cause, the situation takes on a grave aspect.” [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often misinterpret sensory tricks as supernatural signs, ignoring natural explanations. **In simple terms:** Illusions are sometimes seen as spiritual, but have physical causes. Key Takeaway Seek rational explanations before supernatural claims. Themes skepticism perception supernatural psychology Mood cautious inquisitive Type philosophical skeptical When to use this quote - hearing voices - seeing apparitions - grief - spiritual seeking Key Concepts cognitive bias misinterpretation Questions to Reflect On - Why do we prefer mystical answers? - What evidence would change your view? A Different Perspective Some may find comfort in supernatural explanations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Illusions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusions/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) ## Related quotes > [We're all mad, the whole damned race. We're wrapped in illusions, delusions, confusions about the penetrability of partitions, we're all mad and in solitary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/we-re-all-mad-the-whole-damned-race-we-re-wrapped-in-illusions/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [Take a good long look at human beings in their actual practices and motives; bring the utmost psychological and bio-economic factors to bear on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/take-a-good-long-look-at-human-beings-in-their-actual-practices-and/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [The capacity for people to kid themselves is huge. Living on illusions or delusions, and the re-establishing of these illusions or delusions requires a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/the-capacity-for-people-to-kid-themselves-is-huge-living-on-illusions/) [James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/) > [I try to deny myself any illusions or delusions, and I think that this perhaps entitles me to try and deny the same to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-try-to-deny-myself-any-illusions-or-delusions-and-i-think-that-this/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [There is no liberation to compare with freeing oneself from the illusions and delusions of the age in which one lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/there-is-no-liberation-to-compare-with-freeing-oneself-from-the/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [“In many ways, life is about managing your delusions; keeping the ones that nourish and eliminating the ones that poison.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/in-many-ways-life-is-about-managing-your-delusions-keeping-the-ones/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“If you're completely off your rocker and have delusions of grandeur in which your personal existence is of special significance to the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-wolfe/if-you-re-completely-off-your-rocker-and-have-delusions-of-grandeur/) [Edward M. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-wolfe/) > [Doubt is the big machine. It grinds up the delusions of women and men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lavalle/doubt-is-the-big-machine-it-grinds-up-the-delusions-of-women-and-men/) [Victor LaValle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-lavalle/) > [One of the most persistent of all delusions is the conviction that the source of our dissatisfaction lies outside ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-alan-wallace/one-of-the-most-persistent-of-all-delusions-is-the-conviction-that/) [B. Alan Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-alan-wallace/) > [Through our senses the world appears. Through our reactions we create delusions.Without reactions the world becomes clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/through-our-senses-the-world-appears-through-our-reactions-we-create/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [When someone is delusional, there is no point wasting time responding to their delusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kourtney-kardashian/when-someone-is-delusional-there-is-no-point-wasting-time-responding/) [Kourtney Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kourtney-kardashian/) > [Paranoia is a state of heightened awareness. Most people are persecuted beyond their wildest delusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-steiner/paranoia-is-a-state-of-heightened-awareness-most-people-are/) Claude Steiner > [“Thinking no more about it, he stepped off into that cool space, that fast descent to her, with nothing in his mind but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/thinking-no-more-about-it-he-stepped-off-into-that-cool-space-that/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [The religions of mankind must be classed among the mass-delusions of this kind. No one, needless to say, who shares a delusion ever recognizes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/the-religions-of-mankind-must-be-classed-among-the-mass-delusions-of/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [“From what I can see of humans, you often destroy wonderful things in the pursuit of something that your delusions make you think is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-davroe/from-what-i-can-see-of-humans-you-often-destroy-wonderful-things-in/) A.L. Davroe ## More by Harry Houdini > [Look at this life - all mystery and magic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/look-at-this-life-all-mystery-and-magic/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [Magic is the sole science not accepted by scientists, because they can't understand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/magic-is-the-sole-science-not-accepted-by-scientists-because-they-can/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [Flames from the lips may be produced by holding in the mouth a sponge saturated with the purest gasoline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/flames-from-the-lips-may-be-produced-by-holding-in-the-mouth-a-sponge/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [Another method of eating burning coals employs small balls of burned cotton in a dish of burning alcohol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/another-method-of-eating-burning-coals-employs-small-balls-of-burned/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [I am not an irretrievable skeptic. I am not hopelessly prejudiced. I am perfectly willing to believe, and my mind is wide open; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/i-am-not-an-irretrievable-skeptic-i-am-not-hopelessly-prejudiced-i-am/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [Keep up your enthusiasm! There is nothing more contagious than exuberant enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/keep-up-your-enthusiasm-there-is-nothing-more-contagious-than/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [No prison can hold me; no hand or leg irons or steel locks can shackle me. No ropes or chains can keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/no-prison-can-hold-me-no-hand-or-leg-irons-or-steel-locks-can-shackle/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [Anyone who believes in magic is a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/anyone-who-believes-in-magic-is-a-fool/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [No performer should attempt to bite off red-hot iron unless he has a good set of teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/no-performer-should-attempt-to-bite-off-red-hot-iron-unless-he-has-a/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [I'm tired of fighting...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/i-m-tired-of-fighting/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [What the eyes sees, the ear hears, and the mind believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/what-the-eyes-sees-the-ear-hears-and-the-mind-believes/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [To cause the face to appear in a mass of flame make use of the following: mix together thoroughly petroleum, lard, mutton tallow and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/to-cause-the-face-to-appear-in-a-mass-of-flame-make-use-of-the/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [But then, so far as I know, I am the only performer who ever pledged his assistants to secrecy, honor and allegiance under a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/but-then-so-far-as-i-know-i-am-the-only-performer-who-ever-pledged/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [The eating of burning brimstone is an entirely fake performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/the-eating-of-burning-brimstone-is-an-entirely-fake-performance/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [My Brain is the key that sets me free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/my-brain-is-the-key-that-sets-me-free/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) [Explore all 54 Harry Houdini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) ## More Delusions quotes > [“From what I can see of humans, you often destroy wonderful things in the pursuit of something that your delusions make you think is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-davroe/from-what-i-can-see-of-humans-you-often-destroy-wonderful-things-in/) A.L. Davroe > [The religions of mankind must be classed among the mass-delusions of this kind. No one, needless to say, who shares a delusion ever recognizes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/the-religions-of-mankind-must-be-classed-among-the-mass-delusions-of/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [“Thinking no more about it, he stepped off into that cool space, that fast descent to her, with nothing in his mind but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/thinking-no-more-about-it-he-stepped-off-into-that-cool-space-that/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [Paranoia is a state of heightened awareness. Most people are persecuted beyond their wildest delusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-steiner/paranoia-is-a-state-of-heightened-awareness-most-people-are/) Claude Steiner > [When someone is delusional, there is no point wasting time responding to their delusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kourtney-kardashian/when-someone-is-delusional-there-is-no-point-wasting-time-responding/) [Kourtney Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kourtney-kardashian/) > [Through our senses the world appears. Through our reactions we create delusions.Without reactions the world becomes clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/through-our-senses-the-world-appears-through-our-reactions-we-create/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [One of the most persistent of all delusions is the conviction that the source of our dissatisfaction lies outside ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-alan-wallace/one-of-the-most-persistent-of-all-delusions-is-the-conviction-that/) [B. Alan Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-alan-wallace/) > [Doubt is the big machine. It grinds up the delusions of women and men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lavalle/doubt-is-the-big-machine-it-grinds-up-the-delusions-of-women-and-men/) [Victor LaValle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-lavalle/) > [“If you're completely off your rocker and have delusions of grandeur in which your personal existence is of special significance to the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-wolfe/if-you-re-completely-off-your-rocker-and-have-delusions-of-grandeur/) [Edward M. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-wolfe/) > [“In many ways, life is about managing your delusions; keeping the ones that nourish and eliminating the ones that poison.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/in-many-ways-life-is-about-managing-your-delusions-keeping-the-ones/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Fear cripples our minds and breeds delusions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-duran/fear-cripples-our-minds-and-breeds-delusions/) [Meredith Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-duran/) > [“Neurotics, proceed with delusions of grandeur. Napoleon Bonaparte, take the lead. Jesus Christ, bring up the rear. Simulate severe depression. Non-communicative with repressed hostility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/neurotics-proceed-with-delusions-of-grandeur-napoleon-bonaparte-take/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“If you're going to have delusions, you might as well go for the really satisfying ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/if-you-re-going-to-have-delusions-you-might-as-well-go-for-the-really/) [J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/) > [The Enlightenment attacked religion - Christianity, mainly - for two reasons: that it was a set of ideological delusions, and that it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/the-enlightenment-attacked-religion-christianity-mainly-for-two/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [Respect the delicate ecology of your delusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kushner/respect-the-delicate-ecology-of-your-delusions/) [Tony Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kushner/) Browse all 213 Delusions quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not unusual for the eye or ear to play tricks with one, but when such illusions and delusions are taken for the Spirit forms of the departed and voices of the dead instead of being recognized as some subjective phenomena brought about by a physical cause, the situation takes on a grave aspect.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harry Houdini" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/it-is-not-unusual-for-the-eye-or-ear-to-play-tricks-with-one-but-when/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Delusions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/it-is-not-unusual-for-the-eye-or-ear-to-play-tricks-with-one-but-when/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/098/harry-houdini-12485_delusions_it-is-not-unusual-for-the-eye-or-ear-to_2570973.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/098/harry-houdini-12485_delusions_it-is-not-unusual-for-the-eye-or-ear-to_2570973.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/098/harry-houdini-12485_delusions_it-is-not-unusual-for-the-eye-or-ear-to_2570973.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is not unusual for the eye or ear to play tricks with one, but when such illusions and delusions are…” — Harry Houdini", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Harry Houdini", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is not unusual for the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/it-is-not-unusual-for-the-eye-or-ear-to-play-tricks-with-one-but-when/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/it-is-not-unusual-for-the-eye-or-ear-to-play-tricks-with-one-but-when/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```