Quotes from Harry Lorayne

Curiosity killed the cat, but where human beings are concerned, the only thing a healthy curiosity can kill is ignorance.

Thinking clearly and effectively is the greatest asset of any human being.

Most of us recognize faces (did you ever hear anyone say, "Oh, I know your name, but I don't recognize your face"?). It's the names we have trouble with. Since we do usually recognize faces, the thing to do is apply a system wherein the face tells us the name.

you some examples, you should be aware of the fact that most people don't really forget names. They just don't remember them in the first place—often, they don't really hear them in the first place. Just think back and remember the many times you've been introduced to someone, when all you heard was a mumble.

If it's going to a company, use a Substitute thought. For example, if it's an electric bill, see electricity (lightning) shooting out of a mailbox.

That's all there is to it. It's like grabbing your mind by the scruff of the neck and forcing it to think of a specific thing at a specific moment. Force yourself to do it at first, and it will become habitual before you know it.

We want to eliminate rote, not find uses for it.

Hard work applied properly and intelligently, and thinking in an organized manner, must lead to success.

The Link system is used to remember things in sequence only, and there are many things that must be remembered, or learned, in sequence.

The Substitute Word concept can be applied to any seemingly abstract material. Basically, it's this: When you hear or see a word or phrase that seems abstract or intangible to you, think of something—anything—that sounds like, or reminds you of, the abstract material and can be pictured in your mind.

the whole point of the Link; one item must lead you to the next.

If you thought of the Everglades when you thought of Florida, picturing its swamps would have served the purpose for you. Remember that Linking is individual, personal—what you think of is usually best for you. And, most often, the first Substitute Word that comes to mind is the best to

If you thought of the Everglades when you thought of Florida, picturing its swamps would have served the purpose for you. Remember that Linking is individual, personal—what you think of is usually best for you. And, most often, the first Substitute Word that comes to mind is the best to use.

The best way to deliver a speech is to talk it in your own words, thought for thought. A speech is a sequence of thoughts; if the thoughts are out of sequence, the speech won't make much sense. Now, you know how to use the Link system to remember things in sequence.

First, write out or type your speech, including all the things you want to say about all the ideas you think are important. Read it over to get the gist of it. Now for that "other idea": Select a Key Word from each thought that will remind you of the entire thought.

Forming such a Link accomplishes two things. It forces you to concentrate on (to be Originally Aware of) the thoughts of the speech, and it will give you the sequence of thoughts. Knowing that you definitely have that sequence also gives you a confidence that you wouldn't otherwise have.

Applied to reading material, the idea forces you to read actively, with concentration; applied to lectures, it does the same thing. It's difficult to allow your mind to wander when you're listening for Key Words to remind you of thoughts. The next time you want to remember more of reading or lecture material than you usually do, try applying what you've learned here. You'll be surprised at how much you retain.

To remember jokes, many professional comedians Link a Key Word or thought of one joke to the Key Word of the next, and so on. The comedian knows the jokes; he simply needs reminders of the jokes and their sequence.

You cannot possibly remember anything you do not observe; and it is extremely difficult to observe or remember anything that you do not want to remember, or that you are not interested in remembering.

If you could do this all the time without the system, you wouldn't need the system.

Making the pictures ridiculous is what enables you to really see them; a logical picture is usually too vague.

you would like to remember names and faces, there are three steps involved; the first step takes care of the name, the second takes care of the face, and the third locks the two of them together. What you have to do is associate the name to the face in some ridiculous way.

Ordinarily, there'd be no way to picture a name like Bentavagnia (pronounced bent-a-vane-ya). But you can picture, say, a bent weather vane. And bent vane has to remind you of Bentavagnia! The Substitute Word system will work beautifully to help you remember names. Applying it will force you to listen to, pay attention to, concentrate on that name—to be Originally Aware of

For the name Barclay, you could use bar clay or bark lay; for Smolenski, a small lens (camera) skiing; for Caruthers, a car with udders; for Krakowitz, cracker wits; for Frankesni, frank (hot dog) has knee; for Esposito, expose a toe; for Dalrymple, doll rumple; for Kolodny, colored knee; for Androfkavitz, Ann drop car witch; for Giordano, jawed on O; for Virostek, virile stick; and so on.