Line #80 Main/WordsDoNotMakeTheMagic


1	->'''Jade''': I know your magic words! [Starts chanting] [Nothing happens]\
2	'''[[AncientConspiracy Magisters]]''': Hahahahahahaha!\
3	'''Jade''': Come on already!\
4	'''Magisters''': Yon twain knoweth nothing about our magicks.\
5	'''Jackie''': That's what I've been trying to tell you!
6	-->-- ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'', "The Chan Who Knew Too Much"
7
8	Alice sees Bob successfully accomplish a spell or [[MagicAndPowers mystical feat]] and later attempts to accomplish the same spell or feat by merely copying or repeating their words and/or actions and fails for the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin titular reason]]. Usually occurs when it takes more than the MagicalIncantation and MagicalGesture. The magic may be in [[LanguageOfMagic another language]] that requires understanding before use. It may be because as a {{Muggle}}, Alice ''[[TrainingTheGiftOfMagic can't]]'' cast magic. Or ByThePowerOfGrayskull only works for Bob since only ''he'' has the power of Greyskull. [[MagicPrerequisite Maybe the sun wasn't at the right height.]] Whatever the case even if the character is AwesomeByAnalysis, the feat won't work by observation.
9
10	The results of when a character uses a spell where more than the MagicalIncantation matters will vary. There may simply be no effect or the [[MagicMisfire spell could backfire]]. If a villain tries to use a hero's spell and fails due to lacking something necessary for success like ThePowerOfFriendship, expect a ReasonYouSuckSpeech. Aversions of this trope are rarely examples since then words '''''do''''' make the magic and it is a case of MagicalIncantation works for anyone.
11
12	In RolePlayingGames the inability of {{Muggles}} to cast spells by repeating the words is standard. To have it otherwise would mess up the game balance.
13
14	Falls on the cynical end of the [[ThePowerOfLanguage Power of Language]] scale. Compare/Contrast ByThePowerOfGreyskull, where the words do heavily matter but usually only certain characters can use the words successfully.
15
16	-----
17	!Examples:
18
19	[[foldercontrol]]
20
21	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
22	* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': Kido spells are spoken, but they only have effect if used by spiritual beings such as Soul Reapers.
23	* In ''Manga/FairyTail'', [[PsychoElectro Laxus]] attempts to use Marakov's, [[spoiler: his grandfather]] spell, Fairy Law, which targets anyone the user considers an enemy, to eliminate the entire guild. When it fails, despite having enough power and invoking it to activate, one of his friends reminds Laxus that his heart can't lie to his magic and the guild members are still his TrueCompanions.
24	* ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'':
25	** A mook tries to imitate the Hokuto Shinken PressurePoint attack on Kenshiro, of all people, even daring to tell him [[CatchPhrase "You're already dead"]] and count down the seconds to Kenshiro's death. Of course, he had no any idea where to hit and how hard to kill someone. Instead, he unknowingly counted down to his ''own'' death from Kenshiro's attack that he failed to notice.
26	** The minor ArcVillain Amiba made up his own style of Hokuto Shinken based upon his study of the power points required to use the style. However, it is clear he could not have known how to properly use attacks based upon the style. Additionally, when Amiba attempts to use his knowledge of power points to make himself stronger, the result causes his hands to be destroyed, allowing Kenshiro to finish him off.
27	* In ''Anime/MaryAndTheWitchsFlower'', when Peter asks Mary if they can undo the magic trapping by chanting from the SpellBook, Mary says that chanting won't work alone because you need to have actual magic powers.
28	* ''Manga/TheKurosagiCorpseDeliveryService'': Sasayama's IdenticalAncestor (a Buddhist monk) tries to exorcize an evil sorcerer ([[spoiler:UsefulNotes/GrigoriRasputin]]) with a mantra , who snarkily tells him the words only work if spoken by a true believer. An arrow pops up reading "it's true!" pointing at Sasayama's head.
29	* Magic in ''Manga/MissKobayashisDragonMaid'' requires mana, so [[{{Muggles}} Kobayashi]] is unable to cast spells even though she has a deep understanding of magical theory from her programming background. [[spoiler:Of course, this changes when she goes to the other world, which has a BackgroundMagicField.]]
30	[[/folder]]
31
32	[[folder:Comic Books]]
33	* In ''Franchise/TheDCU'', Johnny Quick's sidekick Tubby Watts tried reciting Johnny's [[FormulaicMagic magical formula]] of [[EEqualsMCHAmmer ("3X2(9YZ)4A")]] [[note]]It is a nonsense formula, do not bother searching for it.[[/note]] in order to give himself SuperSpeed like Johnny's. It failed. A later {{Retcon}} established that the 'formula' was actually a personal mantra that would only work for Johnny (and eventually his daughter).
34	** [[Franchise/TheFlash Wally West]] got ahold of the formula in an attempt to become even faster. It ''worked'' ([[GoneHorriblyRight too well, in fact]]), but this is later established as being because he was already connected to the Speed Force, the mystical energy field that empowers all DCU speedsters, Johnny included.
35	* In the "Irredeemable" StoryArc in ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'', Doctor Doom defeats the Four using [[TheMagicVersusTechnologyWar magic]] (and a DealWithTheDevil). He even [[LockingMacGyverInTheStoreCupboard locks Richards in his own spellbook library]], [[EvilGloating secure in the knowledge that Mr. Fantastic cannot manage even the apprentice-level spell that would unlock the door]]. And he's right. Comicbook/DoctorStrange has to show Reed that magic requires admitting something about the self and one's relationship to higher powers, not just saying the right words.
36	* ''ComicBook/PS238'': The MagicMisfire version apparently happened off-screen when [[OnlySaneMan Toby]], [[MuggleBornOfMages who has no superpowers]], tried reading something in magic class:
37	-->'''Toby:''' Didn't I try doing that?\
38	'''Ms. Vashti:''' Yes. One of the results was [[LaserGuidedAmnesia losing about a day and a half of your memory]].
39	* ''Comicbook/TheTombOfDracula'' establishes early and often that just waving a cross or other holy symbol at Dracula doesn't help; you have to really [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve believe]] to ward him off that way. Best seen when the atheist (or at least agnostic) Wolverine makes a cross with his claws, and it does nothing. However, Nightcrawler, a devout Christian, drives The Prince Of Darkness back with two sticks formed into the shape of a cross. Then when Dracula later tries to attack Kitty, he's repelled by her Star of David.
40	* Demonstrated in ''ComicBook/YoungAvengers'' when Prodigy (a former mutant whose power was to absorb knowledge from people around him) fakes out an extra-dimensional monster with a magic phrase and hand sign. He explains to Hulkling that knowing magic words doesn't give him the temperament to actually cast spells.
41	[[/folder]]
42
43	[[folder:Fairy Tales]]
44	* "Literature/TheTrollsDaughter": Inverted; The troll changes his servant's form three times with a special poem. Upon seeing the troll's daughter, the boy-turned-fish remembers it and turns himself back so he can visit with her.
45	* A popular take on the vampires' weakness to holy symbols is that it only works if the person holding it truly believes in the symbol's faith (or sometimes, only if the ''vampire'' does).
46	[[/folder]]
47
48	[[folder:Fan Works]]
49	* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' explains this with the ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' reason that you need a) magical power, b) focus, c) intent, to make something actually happen - and with wandless magic, any words you use are just a mental construct to make it easier, the same way that a wand or a MagicStaff is just an aid to focus and concentration.
50	* In ''Fanfic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality'', Harry assumes this is the case:
51	--> You couldn't really need to say 'Wingardium Leviosa' in exactly the right way in order to levitate something, because, come on, 'Wingardium Leviosa'? The universe was going to check that you said 'Wingardium Leviosa' in exactly the right way and otherwise it wouldn't make the quill float?
52	** A simple experiment shows he's WrongGenreSavvy, and the words in fact ''do'' matter, right down to syllable length.
53	* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11181910/25/Yet-Again-Still-Even-More-Fragments The Last Ones Left]]'', the Scoobies learn that D'Hoffryn and his vengeance demons don't require someone to say "I Wish" in order to use their powers, only that someone express regret and a desire to change things. As D'Hoffryn points out, "wish" is an English word and both he and several of his servants predate English significantly (Anyanka for example was born in the ninth century).
54	[[/folder]]
55
56	[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
57	* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheWitchsGhost'': When Ben Ravencroft discovers the titular ghost, Sarah Ravencroft, is EvilerThanThou, he attempts to reseal her in the book, only to discover those magic words only work for a Wiccan, forcing the member of the Hex Girls who practiced it to perform the spell. Also, when the Scooby gang get their hands on the book, Sarah mocks them and says it is useless to ordinary people.
58	[[/folder]]
59
60	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
61	* The title character in ''[[Film/DoctorStrange2016 Doctor Strange]]'' realizes right away that imitating {{Magical Gesture}}s by rote would be just "waving [his] hands around", and that he needs to do "study and practice, years of it" before he can achieve proficiency in magic. However, he doesn't take the next step and realize that imitating the {{Magical Gesture}}s exactly ''isn't necessary'', and that his damaged hands aren't the barriers he thinks they are until a master who is actually ''missing'' a hand demonstrates for him.
62	* ''Film/BedknobsAndBroomsticks'', the [[ConArtist man]] who [[AchievementsInIgnorance invented the spells from what he thought was a nonsense book]] could not use them, but [[WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast Angela]] [[Film/NannyMcPhee Lans]][[Series/MurderSheWrote bury's]] character, Miss Eglantine Price, could because she actually believed in magic. It took a great deal of concentration (and telling his reflection to believe in something for once in his life) before he could finally get one to work after being shown numerous times that magic existed.
63	** Later, Miss Price gets a hold of the magic words on the [=MacGuffin=] that she had been searching for throughout the film...and they do not work. The man then explains that ''none'' of the magic words she had been using for her spells were the "real" words or preparations; he had found them but spiced them up a bit before selling them on. He suggests she tries the same (read: they all sing a song)- and it works.
64	* ''Film/FrightNight1985'': After one of the heroes tries to use a crucifix against the vampire [[NoSell to no effect]], he learns that it's more difficult than that.
65	--> '''Jerry Dandridge''': You have to have ''faith'' for that to work, Mr. Vincent!
66	* In ''Film/HellboundHellraiserII'', the psychopathic psychologist uses a traumatized girl to open the puzzle box, thus summoning the Cenobites to Earth, figuring that this way it'll be the girl who gets dragged to Hell and not himself. But as Pinhead puts it, "It is not hands that call us, it is desire". They leave the girl in peace and go off in search of the one who ''truly'' summoned them.
67	* In ''Film/NannyMcPhee'', upon entering Nanny [=McPhee=]'s room, Simon finds her stick lying there, the one that she had previously used multiple times to do magic. He bangs it on the floor in much the same way (presumably to try and do some magic of his own), to no effect, except for her suddenly appearing in a previously-empty corner of the room, with a table, cup of tea, and a book in hand.
68	[[/folder]]
69
70	[[folder:Literature]]
71	* In ''Literature/TheBelgariad'', sorcery is powered and directed by the sorcerer's will: the spoken "spell" that causes the effects to manifest can be anything. TheArchmage Belgarath uses mystical-sounding triggers and once scolds Garion as unprofessional for directing his sorcery with silly words like "Push!"
72	* In ''Literature/TheBible'', there is [[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2019:15&version=NIV an account of non-believers who attempt to cast out a demon]] by repeating the words Paul used to successfully exorcise one. The demon, being a bit of a DeadpanSnarker, replies "Jesus I know about, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"
73	* Shown from a mage's perspective in Creator/RogerZelazny's second part of ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfAmber'' and in ''Literature/TheChangingLand''. Words are not the whole spell--they are just the trigger part, and without a properly readied magic, they are meaningless.
74	* The second novel in ''Literature/TheDarkIsRising'' series: Before Will Stanton reads the Book of Gramarye, Merriman tells him that only an Old One can use the spells and Words of Power in the book. Even if a human being could read the book he couldn't use them.
75	* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' series, it's repeatedly noted that magic lies in the user's attitude and determination - chants, cauldrons, and blood offerings are generally there because of the RuleOfCool.
76	** Mentioned in ''Literature/MakingMoney'': the {{golem}}s won't obey orders even spoken in their native tongue, unless [[spoiler: the person giving the order is dressed like an Umnian high priest in golden robes, aka Moist's suit.]]
77	** Also, the actual chanting done by the Wizards in the {{Necromancy}} department is meaningless, any old chanting will do as long as it sounds the part. Even then, this is only because they're trying to summon dead necromancers, who are big on tradition.
78	** Same thing in ''Literature/WyrdSisters'' as the names of instruments of demon summoning are immaterial as long as the general sound and intent is there. Turns out a big copper ladle is quite useful for bopping an uncooperative demon.
79	** In ''Literature/IShallWearMidnight'', a very powerful but untrained witch casts a spell that ''other witches'' think is nonsense, overlapping with AchievementsInIgnorance.
80	* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'':
81	** Present in ''The Dresden Files''. The exact words themselves aren't as important, but the act of an incantation is still an important ''part'' of the spell, as much a part of the spell as pointing and drawing up power. Wizards like to use dead languages, or even nonsense--but consistent--words rather than real ones, to avoid the risk of accidentally misfiring.
82	** The words are part of a personal, mental construct that a given mage uses to make the spell, and they seem to need a personal connection to the wizard. In a flashback scene, Harry is trying to start a fire with magic, and is using his teacher's words, and can't manage the actual spell until he makes up his more familiar "Flickum Bicus" incantation.
83	** The reason Wizards use dead languages and nonsense words for their spells is that the incantation becomes linked with the spell in their mind, so if they use a word from a language they speak regularly, due to the mental equivalent of muscle memory they could burn their house down whenever they say "fire."
84	** Harry at one point in ''Literature/FoolMoon'' uses a completely non-verbal spell, but isn't able to do much more than the minimum necessary to not die at the moment (something big and nasty had its hands around his neck), and he nearly died from the after-effects of the spell anyway.
85	* The ''Literature/{{Goosebumps}}'' book ''Literature/HowIGotMyShrunkenHead'' has the protagonist getting a shrunken head, which has powers that work when he says certain words. But the powers had to be put inside him by his aunt first, so this no longer works when the magic is taken away.
86	* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
87	** The [[AgonyBeam Cruciatus Curse]] Harry tried using on Bellatrix Lestrange did work, but due to his own lack of desire to hurt her, it was really weak in effect. It applies to all Unforgivable curses, as their user has to desire to hurt others for them to work at all, and without pure malice (which is quite different from the righteous fury that Harry tried to channel into his Cruciatus against Bellatrix) their effect will be less than desired.
88	** In general, it is made quite clear that magic is more than just a wand and an incantation; you have to be a wizard to use magic. [[MuggleBornOfMages Filch]] trying to learn magic via Quickspell would be a good example.
89	** The fact that wizards have to go to WizardingSchool. You can't just say the words and wave the wand, you have to know ''how'' to do it. [[note]]It is possible for a skilled wizard/witch to cast a random magical effect similar to "accidental magic" without using their wands, too, since wands are a tool of control and not one of power.[[/note]]
90	** Parseltongue (the ability to speak with snakes) is unique to a select few wizards, but the language itself is something anyone can speak if they know the words. Ron is able to [[spoiler: open the Chamber of Secrets]] by just making the same sounds that Harry did when he opened it. He had no idea what he was saying but it worked because it was the sounds rather than the knowledge of the actual words that were required opened the door.
91	** Rowling has stated that even less flashy magics, like potions-brewing or divination, can't be done by Muggles.
92	** Two spells introduced in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban'' require the caster to think certain things;
93	*** ''Riddikulus'' (used to fight boggarts that turn into your worst fear) requires the caster to think of something funny happening to what they're afraid of.
94	*** ''Expecto Patronum'' needs you to focus on a happy memory in order to beat the [[EmotionEater happiness eating]] Dementors.
95	* ''Literature/InheritanceCycle'': All spells are said in the old tongue, the language that has the true name for anything. Yet, you do not actually need the words for casting, they only help you focus (or, more strictly, prevent a loss of focus from adversely affecting the spell), and they won't get you anywhere if you don't have the innate talent for magic anyway. This wordless magic comes as a surprise for Eragon in Ellesmera, when his opponent, although unable to speak, can still cast.
96	* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': Spells are nothing more than a PowerCrutch. They help with focus but are ultimately unnecessary. What you really need for magic is to understand the magical theory behind the spells. Novices like Eric need them but experts like Basilard and Dengel do not.
97	** ''Literature/AMagesPower'': Eric improvises a death spell by saying "From its toes to its head, make that monster dead!" but because he has no idea how necromancy works, it's an impotent rhyme.
98	* In ''Literature/{{Ra}}'', it's not enough to speak a spell. The mage must think through and understand it as well.
99	* In the second ''Literature/RiversOfLondon'' book, Lindsey tries to copy one of Peter's spells, and he explains to her that you can't just say the words, you need intense practice and an innate ability. [[spoiler: Which she does.]]
100	* "The Staff in the Stone" by Creator/GarthNix: Incantations are basically mnemonics to "safely recall exactly how the power must be called and used", but are neither necessary nor sufficient for magic -- spellcasters need to have magical power and know how to use it.
101	* In ''Literature/TheTygrineCat'', Mati realizes he's forgotten [[BlindSeer Etheleldra's]] chant upon trying to enter [[SpiritWorld Fiåney]] on his own for the first time. However, [[TheDitz Sparrow's]] mealtime song about "mackerel, mackerel, smoked and sweet" works just as well. He disregards using chants from then on.
102	* ''Literature/AWizardInRhyme'' plays with this. Magic is treated as a neutral force that responds to any kind of symbol as a vehicle for the user's intent. Words aren't strictly necessary, but happen to be the most accessible, convenient, and reliable symbols to use, especially when arranged in verse. Thus, the use of verse is so prevalent that most spellcasters never bother with any other method.
103	[[/folder]]
104
105	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
106	* ''In Series/{{Charmed\|1998}}'', only a magical being, such as an actual, magical witch, can cast spells. If a mortal tries it, the mortal is just speaking a rhyme. In the episode "[[Recap/CharmedS2E13AnimalPragmatism Animal Pragmatism]]": a group of [[{{Muggles}} mortals]] (mortal= non magical "normal" human) accidentally find a loophole. They cast a spell by playing a tape recording of Phoebe chanting her edits to a spell they were researching, and it worked because Phoebe did the rhyming.
107	* In ''Series/{{Merlin\|2008}}'', the second episode shows how Merlin struggles through a long night in order to master the spell he needs to save Arthur, even though he can say the [[MagicalIncantation Incantation]] properly, it's not enough for him to use that spell.
108	* In the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode "[[Recap/SupernaturalS05E07TheCuriousCaseOfDeanWinchester The Curious Case Of Dean Winchester]]", the Winchesters run into an Irish warlock called Patrick who takes years from people's lives with a deck of enchanted magic cards, and uses it to [[LifeDrinker extend his own life indefinitely]]. When Dean loses 50 years in a gamble, he tries to reverse the process by breaking into Patrick's safe and stealing the cards. The warlock interrupts them and tells them not to bother.
109	-->'''Patrick:''' The magic isn't in the cards, idiots. It's ''in the 900-year-old witch''.
110	* ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess'': Several people attempt to cast a magic spell from a scroll to no effect. Gabrielle deduces that they are using the wrong meter and accidentally casts the spell herself. HilarityEnsues.
111	[[/folder]]
112
113	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
114	* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': verbal spell components, are sometimes required. A mundane person speaking the words will have no effect at all: you have to have magical power/knowledge for the spell to work.
115	** Conversely, the "Silent Spell" feat and the "Subtle Spell" metamagic allow a caster to disregard the verbal component and still have the spell take effect.
116	* In ''TabletopGame/MageTheAwakening'', people gain magic by having their souls joined to one of the Supernal Realms. The [[LanguageOfMagic High Speech]] is a handy PowerCrutch to make spells a bit more reliable, but without that connection, it can't be used or even reliably perceived.
117	* Common in the ''TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness'', where performing magic almost always requires you to either be an inherently supernatural being or to had such a being bestow some of its power on you.
118	** Verbal spell components spoken by {{Muggles}} have no effect in ''TabletopGame/MageTheAscension''. Even for the mages themselves, spell components are little more than props to help them shape reality with their Awakened will.
119	** ''TabletopGame/DemonTheFallen'' explicitly notes that even though demons' evocations are performed by speaking special words of power encoded in the Lores, just repeating those words by rote isn't enough to perform an evocation - you need to have a deep spiritual understanding of what they mean, to the point where the knowledge shapes your very nature. Humans also can't perform evocations at all, though they can be given similar abilities by making a [[DealWithTheDevil pact with a demon.]]
120	** Averted in the "Sorcerer" supplement, which deals in limited (but still extremely useful) "linear magics" available to {{Muggles}}, where correct performance of the rituals ''is'' required.
121	* In ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'', magic words ''normally'' just make it easier for the magician to focus their mind; thus the words are personal, they often skip the words when they aren't stressed or otherwise distracted. However, in a sort of [[DoubleSubversion double]] [[AvertedTrope aversion]], their magic can '''break''' in such a way that the words are required… but the requirement is for the same "whatever you made up" words as before.
122	* ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasyRoleplay'': Knowledge of a LanguageOfMagic is necessary but not sufficient to cast spells; a character also needs the ability to channel the [[BackgroundMagicField Winds of Magic]] to power those spells.
123	[[/folder]]
124
125	[[folder:Video Games]]
126	* The Thu'um in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim''. It is possible for ordinary mortals to learn it, though it takes a lifetime of training and effort to master it. Anyone without that training would not be able to make the Shouts do anything. The Dragonborn can take shortcuts because he/she has the soul of a Dragon, and even the Dragonborn has to study the words of power and absorb the souls of other Dragons first. Ulfric Stormcloak himself was taught by the Greybeards to learn the ways of the Thu'um, but used what he knew (the Unrelenting Force shout) to assert himself as the "true" High King of Skyrim and reestablish Skyrim as independent from Imperial puppet kings. The thing about Dragon Shouts is you have to understand deeply what they mean, not just the translation but the real essence of the word.
127	* In ''VideoGame/KingOfDragonPass'', a lot of factors decide whether a decision in a heroquest is successful. One of them is saying "the right thing" (usually there are multiple valid options), but the heroquester's skill, their ability to act in-character, and the culture of the group that's casting the heroquest. If a ferocious warrior tribe chooses diplomatic actions, they're likely to fail regardless of everything else.
128	-->"You know the words, but you do not understand the mystery."
129	* ''VideoGame/{{Myst}}'': Gehn believes that this is the case, thinking that only those with D'ni blood can use The Art. The people of Terahnee believe the same thing, that Ahrotahntee (book-worlders, people native to an age) cannot use the Art. They're wrong; it's proven time and again that what matters are the books, ink, and words used, not the nature of the person writing them. Indeed for Gehn, it's something he should have known since his mother was a full-blooded Ahrotahntee (native to Earth in fact) and she was perfectly capable of the Art. Then again, cognitive dissonance is pretty much Gehn's stock in trade. It's also a literal case: Gehn tries to treat the Art as a science, and tries to use "formulae" of specific words, and delete "unnecessary" ones from the Ages that he links to in his writing (in order to save his ink). Unfortunately for Gehn, deleting "unnecessary" words tends to make his Ages dangerously unstable. His son Atrus understands the Art far better, and is able to not only produce stable Ages as a result but can even use his writing to slow the decay of unstable Ages like VideoGame/{{Riven}}.
130	* In ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'', Tear needed to understand the meaning of the [[MagicMusic fonic hymns]] before she could use them whether she knew the words or not.
131	[[/folder]]
132
133	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
134	* In ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'', the words used in spells do not have any power of their own. Rather, they are used as a form of self-hypnosis which makes it easier for mages to activate their Magic Circuits in a consistent way.
135	[[/folder]]
136
137	[[folder:Web Comics]]
138	* Mentl in ''Webcomic/TheChallengesOfZona'', when he arrives in Erogenia, begins to learn about his own innate magical abilities, which are tied to his abilities as a musician. As a result, he is able to use [[ThePowerOfRock lyrics to his favorite rock-and-roll songs]] as powerful spells; he once incinerated an attacker by singing "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis, and a counterpart of his from the future incorporated the lyrics to [[Music/TheBeatles "Get Back"]] as a time-travel spell.
139	* Played with in ''{{Webcomic/Morphe}}''. All of the spells in the series are standard and can be taught or read about in books. However, casting is tied closely to how the mage views reality and magic. Tyler can only cast by comparing what he is doing to fictional precedent. Billy can only cast by exerting his will over reality. Curio "codes" his spells using a mentality of adjusting the attributes and statistics of the world around him. Despite this, they are all learning the same school of magic. Tyler and Amical even use the exact same spells, though Tyler does not need to physically touch people like Amical does.
140	* Parodied in [[http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=3#comic this]] ''Webcomic/SaturdayMorningBreakfastCereal'' comic.
141	[[/folder]]
142
143	[[folder:Web Original]]
144	* This {{koan}} from the Jargon File:
145	-->A novice was trying to fix a broken Lisp machine by turning the power off and on.
146	-->Knight, seeing what the student was doing spoke sternly: "You can not fix a machine by just power-cycling it with no understanding of what is going wrong."
147	-->Knight turned the machine off and on.
148	-->The machine worked.
149	** In RealLife of course, millions of people fix machines just this way, every day. Half the trick to successfully solving a problem by power-cycling is remembering that there is a difference between power-cycling and rapidly hitting the power switch/button; the other half is knowing when you've got a problem you can solve by power-cycling.
150	* In the ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'' "Hero High" series by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/485015/Mr-Evil Mr. Evil,]] Alexander Sovereign, while studying Gwen's magic, realizes that the words she speaks to use her magic mean nothing. He points out they are only a way to focus the power to what she wants it to do and after training long enough can use the magic to do what she wants without words.
151	[[/folder]]
152
153	[[folder:Western Animation]]
154	* ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'':
155	** Jade attempts to use a cult's spell against them by repeating the words they use to cast it and fails because she's not a member.
156	** In another episode, Captain Black once read Uncle's books and in trying to perform a spell turned himself into a frog.
157	* Zig-zagged in the ''WesternAnimation/TheScoobyDooShow'' episode "Scared A Lot In Camelot." The gang discovers an organ as the source of the ghosts that Merlin (a perp in disguise, of course) is able to conjure up. Shaggy and Scooby confront Merlin and the Black Knight as Shaggy chants "Abracadacra!" Daphne presses a key on the organ, making the projections of ghosts appear. But when Scooby says [[SpeechImpediment "Rippety rappety roo!"]], Daphne gets her finger caught between organ keys, producing nothing.
158	* In ''WesternAnimation/SofiaTheFirst''/''WesternAnimation/ElenaOfAvalor,'' when Elena is freed from the Amulet of Avalor, the first thing she does is attempt to capture Shuriki in the amulet as revenge. She has the same wand and uses the same spell, but nothing happens. Shuriki just laughs and explains that magic requires understanding.
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162	* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo_cult Cargo cults]] are Pacific island tribes whose islands were used as bases by various militaries in WWII. From the islanders' point of view, these military people didn't have to farm their own food - instead they built an airbase and called for food and other supplies to be brought down in cargo planes. After the soldiers left, the islanders tried to call for supplies themselves and built their own airbases; but since they were only copying appearance and didn't understand the underlying technology, the planes never came.
163	* A more explicitly word-based version is [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo_cult_programming "cargo cult programming,"]] when novice programmers copy code snippets without understanding what the snippets mean, thus risking a totally different result from the original.
164	* It's not uncommon for children to try to do something they've seen on TV. If what they saw was a result of some kind of special effect (or was part of an animated show), then they will inevitably fail. For example, what ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' fan didn't try to use the [[{{Kamehamehadouken}} Kamehameha]] when they were a kid?
165	* The core of the divide between Protestantism and Catholicism largely comes down to differing interpretations of this trope. The Protestant doctrine of ''sola fide'' holds that faith in God alone is what saves believers' souls and gets them into {{Heaven}}, and that good works in life don't make one a good Christian so much as they are an expression of such. The Catholic Church disagrees and holds that both faith ''and'' good works are necessary for salvation. Notably, each side sees the other as being on the wrong end of this trope. Protestantism was born in response to the Catholic Church's abuse of the selling of indulgences, which allowed people to [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney buy their way into Heaven]] while the Church got rich, and in response declared that faith was the important factor in salvation and that emphasizing good works opened the door to {{corrupt\|Church}}ion. The Church, in response, believes that ''sola fide'' gives believers ''carte blanche'' to [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections ignore Christ's teachings out of a belief that they're already saved]], and that good works are necessary in order to prove that one is keeping the faith and isn't just hollowly reciting the creed.
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Context Main / WordsDoNotMakeTheMagic