Acceptable Quote by Starhawk
“Magic is another word that makes people uneasy, so I use it deliberately, because words they are comfortable with, the words that sound acceptable, rational, scientific, and intellectually sound, are comfortable precisely because they are the language of estrangement.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Spiral Dance by Starhawk, 1979
The term “magic” unsettles people, so the speaker uses it deliberately to challenge comfortable, rational language that distances us from true experience.
In simple terms: Using “magic” forces us to confront uncomfortable ideas.
Key Takeaway
Choose words that provoke thought.
Themes
language
comfort
discomfort
power
perception
Mood
provocative
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- public speaking
- teaching
- activism
- writing
- debate
Key Concepts
semantics
estrangement
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How does language shape what we accept as truth?
- Can discomfort lead to deeper understanding?
A Different Perspective
People may reject “magic” as irrational, limiting dialogue.
![“[On 9/11:] ... those towers represented human triumph over nature. Larger than life, built to be unburnable, they were the Titanic of our day. For them to burn and fall so quickly means that the whole superstructure we depend upon to mitigate nature and assure our comfort and safety could fall.” quote by Starhawk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5bc/starhawk-3881_built_on-9-11-those-towers-represented-human-t_166623.jpg)
![“In any case, open-seat presidential elections like 2008 just are different in character from incumbent reelects, and I think that's the most important thing about this election - is that once there's an incumbent running for reelection, most of the debate is about, "Has he [Barack Obama] done a…” quote by William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0b0/william-kristol-9091_acceptable_in-any-case-open-seat-presidential-elect_36353.jpg)