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About this quote

What does it mean?
Technology far beyond our understanding appears magical to us.
In plain terms
Advanced tech looks like magic to people who don't understand it.
What can you take from it?
What seems magical today may become normal tomorrow.

Where it applies

  • explaining new tech
  • public reception
  • futurism

Putting it to work

  • demystify complex tools
  • communicate tech benefits

Questions to consider

  • What tech today seems like magic to you?
  • How do you explain complex tech to others?

Another view

Not all advanced tech is indistinguishable from magic.

More from Arthur C. Clarke

  1. Clarke's Second Law: The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.

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  2. Clarke's Law of Revolutionary Ideas: Every revolutionary idea - in science, politics, art, or whatever - seems to evoke three stages of reaction. They may be s…

    Permalink to quote #45
  3. Clarke's First Law: When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something i…

    Permalink to quote #42

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