--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Magic is a kind of energy. It is given…" description: "\"Magic is a kind of energy. It is given shape by human thoughts and emotions, by imagination. Thoughts define that shape—and words help to define those ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc5/jim-butcher-151_emotion_magic-is-a-kind-of-energy-it-is-given-sh_1992908.jpg" --- # Magic is a kind of energy. It is given shape by human… ![“Magic is a kind of energy. It is given shape by human thoughts and emotions, by imagination. Thoughts define that shape—and words help to define those thoughts. That’s why wizards usually use words to help them with their spells. Words provide a sort of insulation as the energy of magic burns…” quote by Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc5/jim-butcher-151_emotion_magic-is-a-kind-of-energy-it-is-given-sh_1992908.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc5/jim-butcher-151_emotion_magic-is-a-kind-of-energy-it-is-given-sh_1992908.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc5/jim-butcher-151_emotion_magic-is-a-kind-of-energy-it-is-given-sh_1992908.jpg) > “Magic is a kind of energy. It is given shape by human thoughts and emotions, by imagination. Thoughts define that shape—and words help to define those thoughts. That’s why wizards usually use words to help them with their spells. Words provide a sort of insulation as the energy of magic burns through a spell caster’s mind.” [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Magic is portrayed as energy shaped by thoughts, emotions, and especially words, highlighting the power of language in spellcraft. **In simple terms:** Magic needs thoughts and words to take shape. Key Takeaway Use precise language to channel intentions. Themes magic language imagination Mood mysterious inspirational Type mythic philosophical When to use this quote - rituals - creative writing - psychological focus Key Concepts energy shaping spellcraft cognitive influence Questions to Reflect On - How do words influence your personal power? - Can imagination replace practice? A Different Perspective Words alone cannot replace skill or will. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Energy Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy-magic-3465120/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Help Spells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-spells-3465121/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Human thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-thought/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Insulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insulation/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Spells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spells/) [Spells Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spells-words-1661326/) [Thoughts and emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-and-emotions/) [Thoughts Wizards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-wizards-3465122/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Wizards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wizards/) ## Related quotes > [I was really nervous at the beginning and I was sweating when I walked onto the set with them. It was also funny because,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaley-cuoco/i-was-really-nervous-at-the-beginning-and-i-was-sweating-when-i/) [Kaley Cuoco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaley-cuoco/) > [“That kiss was bigger than my dreams." The words found their way to my ear, softly. I had no doubt that magic did exist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-skinner/that-kiss-was-bigger-than-my-dreams-the-words-found-their-way-to-my/) [Dan Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-skinner/) > [“Words have power, my son. Words can cut to the heart and soothe the deepest hurts. They can be puzzles that leave another pondering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-matthynssens/words-have-power-my-son-words-can-cut-to-the-heart-and-soothe-the/) [Cheryl Matthynssens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-matthynssens/) > [Poetry, is the insulation that lies between the inner walls of the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-hensel/poetry-is-the-insulation-that-lies-between-the-inner-walls-of-the-mind/) [Robert M. Hensel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-hensel/) > [The walls of books around him, dense with the past, formed a kind of insulation against the present world of disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-macdonald/the-walls-of-books-around-him-dense-with-the-past-formed-a-kind-of/) [Ross Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-macdonald/) > [The anorexic is the fuse nakedly exposed to the direct power of modern media, a psyche whose wiring has no insulation. The anorexic is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/the-anorexic-is-the-fuse-nakedly-exposed-to-the-direct-power-of/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [The apocalypse is not something which is coming. The apocalypse has arrived in major portions of the planet and it’s only because we live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/the-apocalypse-is-not-something-which-is-coming-the-apocalypse-has/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [To be brutally honest, for much of that time, I was the only person in the world with Parkinson's. Of course, I mean that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/to-be-brutally-honest-for-much-of-that-time-i-was-the-only-person-in/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [Being thin and therefore without much insulation, I'm always cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/being-thin-and-therefore-without-much-insulation-i-m-always-cold/) [Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/) > [“Quartz Solutions is a one-stop-search for cleaning, protection, repairing and redesigning storage rooms, creep spaces and air conduits in Bloomfield, NJ.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quartz-solutions/quartz-solutions-is-a-one-stop-search-for-cleaning-protection/) [Quartz Solutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quartz-solutions/) > [Cocooning is about insulation and avoidance, peace and protection, coziness and control - a sort of hyper-nesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-popcorn/cocooning-is-about-insulation-and-avoidance-peace-and-protection/) [Faith Popcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-popcorn/) > [But we must also look at renewable heat technology. More combined heat and power schemes, putting waste heat to better use. More district heating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-huhne/but-we-must-also-look-at-renewable-heat-technology-more-combined-heat/) [Chris Huhne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-huhne/) > [I ate fiberglass insulation. It wasn’t cotton candy like the guy said… my tummy itches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/i-ate-fiberglass-insulation-it-wasn-t-cotton-candy-like-the-guy-said/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [“where can we apply or install blanket insulation”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joda/where-can-we-apply-or-install-blanket-insulation/) [Joda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joda/) > [No matter how much insulation you add to the attic, if you don't have a proper vapour barrier you'll still lose heat and run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-baeumler/no-matter-how-much-insulation-you-add-to-the-attic-if-you-don-t-have/) [Bryan Baeumler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-baeumler/) ## More by Jim Butcher > [“I stared at MacFinn for a long moment. I believed that he was telling me the truth. That he didn’t have much control, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-stared-at-macfinn-for-a-long-moment-i-believed-that-he-was-telling/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“So you really could die. Your godmother is right, you know. You are mad as a hatter. Nutty as a fruitcake.” “Crazy like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/so-you-really-could-die-your-godmother-is-right-you-know-you-are-mad/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“I knew I didn't have much of a chance of getting away from that swarm of fae piranha, but it was an infinitely larger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-knew-i-didn-t-have-much-of-a-chance-of-getting-away-from-that-swarm/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“I told you," Molly said, never looking toward me. "It's in the past. Leave it there." "You listening to my head, kiddo?" Her mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-told-you-molly-said-never-looking-toward-me-it-s-in-the-past-leave/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [Punctuality is for people with nothing better to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/punctuality-is-for-people-with-nothing-better-to-do/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Look,” I said. “Me and the island are . . . kind of partners.” “Oh, right,” Thomas said. He looked at Karrin and said, “Harry’s a geosexual.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/look-i-said-me-and-the-island-are-kind-of-partners-oh-right-thomas/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“I swear , this stupid town. Why does every hideous supernatural thing that happens happen here ? I'm gone for a few months and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-swear-this-stupid-town-why-does-every-hideous-supernatural-thing/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [Well. We’ll just have to hope that this wasn’t a loup-garou, I guess.” “If it was a louper, you’d know,” Bob said wisely. “In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/well-we-ll-just-have-to-hope-that-this-wasn-t-a-loup-garou-i-guess-if/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“I'm going to use them to track him down and thwart him." "Thwart?" Sarissa asked. "Thwart." I said. "To prevent someone from accomplishing something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-m-going-to-use-them-to-track-him-down-and-thwart-him-thwart-sarissa/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“But you can't go around changing your definition of right and wrong (or smart and stupid) just because doing the wrong thing happens to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/but-you-can-t-go-around-changing-your-definition-of-right-and-wrong/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Not everyone can be equally right, Harry.” “But believe you me, everyone can be equally wrong,” I said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/not-everyone-can-be-equally-right-harry-but-believe-you-me-everyone/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [You are a drug dealer. To tiny faeries. Shame." Sanya to Dresden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/you-are-a-drug-dealer-to-tiny-faeries-shame-sanya-to-dresden/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“He fell into step beside me and we both got into the Blue Beetle — he got in the red door. I got in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/he-fell-into-step-beside-me-and-we-both-got-into-the-blue-beetle-he/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [Something like this will test you like nothing else," Mac said. "You're going to find out who you are, Harry. You're going to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/something-like-this-will-test-you-like-nothing-else-mac-said-you-re/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Mort looked at the cat and sighed. “Oh, sure. Professional ectomancer with a national reputation as a medium tells you what’s going on, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/mort-looked-at-the-cat-and-sighed-oh-sure-professional-ectomancer/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) [Explore all 1,110 Jim Butcher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) ## More Emotion quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Of course I like you. It's because I like you I don't wanna be with you. It's a complicated emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlin/of-course-i-like-you-it-s-because-i-like-you-i-don-t-wanna-be-with/) [Marlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlin/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [“Emotion as well as reason belongs to the very stuff of history.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-smalley/emotion-as-well-as-reason-belongs-to-the-very-stuff-of-history/) [Beryl Smalley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-smalley/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [It is not my intention to explain Turkey, its culture and its problems. My literature has a universal concern: I want to bring people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/it-is-not-my-intention-to-explain-turkey-its-culture-and-its-problems/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [People are disturbed not by things but by the view they take of them. They may forget what you said, but they will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [There cannot be any communication except through form. If there is no form, you cannot create emotion in the spectator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-resnais/there-cannot-be-any-communication-except-through-form-if-there-is-no/) [Alain Resnais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-resnais/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [ Music \[is\] the third rail of life. You grabbed it to shock yourself out of the dull drag of hours. To feel something. To… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hill/music-is-the-third-rail-of-life-you-grabbed-it-to-shock-yourself-out/) [Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hill/) > [“What if each time you experienced an emotion, you acknowledged it, accepted it, and became curious about its message for you (instead of trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vironika-tugaleva/what-if-each-time-you-experienced-an-emotion-you-acknowledged-it/) [Vironika Tugaleva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vironika-tugaleva/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) [Browse all 7,204 Emotion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Magic is a kind of energy. It is given shape by human thoughts and emotions, by imagination. Thoughts define that shape—and words help to define those thoughts. That’s why wizards usually use words to help them with their spells. Words provide a sort of insulation as the energy of magic burns through a spell caster’s mind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jim Butcher" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/magic-is-a-kind-of-energy-it-is-given-shape-by-human-thoughts-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Emotion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/magic-is-a-kind-of-energy-it-is-given-shape-by-human-thoughts-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc5/jim-butcher-151_emotion_magic-is-a-kind-of-energy-it-is-given-sh_1992908.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc5/jim-butcher-151_emotion_magic-is-a-kind-of-energy-it-is-given-sh_1992908.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc5/jim-butcher-151_emotion_magic-is-a-kind-of-energy-it-is-given-sh_1992908.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Magic is a kind of energy. It is given shape by human thoughts and emotions, by imagination. Thoughts define…” — Jim Butcher", "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": "Jim Butcher", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Magic is a kind of energy....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/magic-is-a-kind-of-energy-it-is-given-shape-by-human-thoughts-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/magic-is-a-kind-of-energy-it-is-given-shape-by-human-thoughts-and/#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 } } ] } ```