The great trouble with magicians is the fact that they believe when they have bought a certain trick or piece of apparatus, and know the method of procedure, that they are full-fledged mystifiers.

The eating of burning brimstone is an entirely fake performance.

Flames from the lips may be produced by holding in the mouth a sponge saturated with the purest gasoline.

I do not believe that ghosts or spirits exist.

But then, so far as I know, I am the only performer who ever pledged his assistants to secrecy, honor and allegiance under a notarial oath.

No prison can hold me; no hand or leg irons or steel locks can shackle me. No ropes or chains can keep me from my freedom.

Fire has always been and, seemingly, will always remain, the most terrible of the elements.