There is no such thing as magic.” “But you just—”“Things are or they are not, Vasya,” he interrupted. “If you want something, it means you do not have it, it means that you do not believe it is there, which means it will never be there. The fire is or it is not . That which you call magic is simply not allowing the world to be other than as you will it.

I did not know I was to be outdone by a little magic boy and his tricks,” he said. “I salute you, magician.” He swept her a bow from horseback. Vasya did not return the bow. “To small minds,” she told him, spine very straight, “any skill must look like sorcery.

Come in, Vasya,' he said. 'It is cold.' Could the snow-laden night speak, it might have spoken with that voice.

If I wanted to imprison someone until the end of days, would it not be best to use a prison that he has no desire to escape?

That which you call magic is simply not allowing the world to be other than as you will it.