Art Quote by Paracelsus
“Determined will is the beginning of all magical operations. It is because men do not perfectly imagine and believe the result, that the (occult) arts are so uncertain, while they might be perfectly certain.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Archidoxis Magica, 1565
He suggests that magical practices stem from uncertain belief because humans cannot fully imagine outcomes, yet certainty could make them reliable.
In simple terms: Magic is uncertain because we lack perfect belief.
Key Takeaway
Strengthen belief to reduce uncertainty.
Themes
mysticism
belief
uncertainty
Mood
mystical
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- ritual practice
- creative problem solving
- spiritual exploration
Key Concepts
epistemology
alchemy
Questions to Reflect On
- Can certainty replace mystery in practice?
- What role does imagination play in achieving results?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on belief may ignore empirical methods.
![“Among the great men who have philosophized about [the action of the tides], the one who surprised me most is Kepler. He was a person of independent genius, [but he] became interested in the action of the moon on the water, and in other occult phenomena, and similar childishness.” quote by Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/96d/galileo-galilei-2377_action_among-the-great-men-who-have-philosophiz_131150.jpg)
