When I started out back in Louisville, there was Harry Collins.

Lance Burton, the great illusionist whose hands wove wonder into reality, once spoke with reverence of his beginnings: “When I started out back in Louisville, there was Harry Collins. He was my first teacher. He saw that I was so obsessed with magic that he taught me the love of magic.” These words are not only a memory of apprenticeship, but a hymn to the power of mentorship, the sacred transmission of passion from master to disciple, from one soul to another, across the bridge of devotion and discipline.

The meaning of this quote lies in the difference between obsession and love. Burton confesses that as a boy he was consumed by magic, captivated by its mysteries. Yet obsession alone can be consuming, a fire that burns without guidance and leaves nothing but ashes. What Harry Collins, the seasoned magician, offered was not just instruction in tricks and illusions, but a deeper understanding: the transformation of obsession into love. Obsession looks inward and consumes the self; love looks outward, shares, and creates wonder for others. Through his teacher, Burton’s obsession was sanctified into purpose.

The origin of this truth rests in the timeless bond of teacher and student. In the city of Louisville, where a young boy’s fascination with magic could easily have withered into hobby or distraction, a wise elder saw promise and gave it form. Harry Collins, recognizing the boy’s passion, did not extinguish it nor exploit it, but cultivated it. He took a raw flame and shaped it into a steady light. From such beginnings arose Lance Burton, who would one day become one of the greatest magicians of his generation. This is the alchemy of teaching: to turn obsession into vocation, passion into art.

History resounds with parallels. Consider the sculptor Michelangelo, whose genius might have remained hidden had it not been for his master, Domenico Ghirlandaio, who recognized his obsession with form and taught him to love the discipline of stone. Or think of Aristotle, who taught the young Alexander that conquest was not merely about war but about philosophy and governance. In each case, it was the guiding hand of a teacher that transformed youthful fire into enduring greatness.

Burton’s reflection also speaks to the power of recognition. A true teacher does not simply transmit knowledge; he sees into the soul of the student, discerning both the hunger and the potential. When Harry Collins saw a boy “so obsessed,” he did not chastise him for excess, but honored that hunger and directed it toward love. This is the mark of true mentorship: to take what is raw, to refine it, and to awaken within the pupil not only skill but reverence for the craft.

The lesson for us is clear: seek mentors who can transform your obsessions into love. Do not be content with raw fascination or shallow interest; allow yourself to be taught the discipline, the meaning, and the beauty that turn passion into lifelong art. Likewise, if you are in the position of guiding others, look for the sparks in those who follow you, and fan them gently into flames of purpose. For in shaping another’s passion, you may be shaping the destiny of the world.

Practically, this means pursuing not only knowledge but also guidance. Find those who have walked the path before you, and learn not just their methods but their spirit. If you are consumed by a craft or dream, do not let obsession burn uncontrolled—find a teacher who can turn it into love. And when you master your own art, remember to pass it on, as Harry Collins did, for the chain of teaching is the lifeblood of all human achievement.

So let Lance Burton’s memory stand as a teaching for every generation: in a small city, a boy’s obsession with magic met a master’s wisdom, and from it was born a life of wonder shared with millions. The world is moved forward by such encounters, when one who loves a craft teaches another not only how to perform it, but how to love it. And in this sacred exchange between teacher and student, obsession becomes art, and passion becomes destiny.