[Psychics] use exactly the same gimmicks that we magicians do — the same physical methods, the same psychological methods — and they effectively and profoundly deceive millions of people around the earth, to their detriment.

Source: "Homeopathy, Quackery and Fraud." TED2007. Feb. 2007. Conference Presentation. Additional Information: This quote by skeptic and magician James Randi is from his 2007 TED Talk about debunking frauds and charlatans, such as psychics and sellers of homeopathic medicine. The quote means that like a magician, self-proclaimed "psychics" use tricks and illusions to deceive people; the difference between the two is that psychics claim their tricks are real and thereby harm the persons they are performing for -- by charging them money for ineffective services, encouraging them to believe things that aren't true, etc. Watch the full TED Talk here: James Randi - Homeopathy, Quackery, and Fraud

“Homeopathy, Quackery and Fraud.” TED2007. Feb. 2007. Conference Presentation.