Hahahahaha, ok, I'm sorry wow! Did you just say to NOT listen to the teachings of Dai Vernon? Are you insane?!?
No, to the first, Yes to the second.
I'm not saying disregard him. I'm just using your reference to Vernon as an example of magicians looking too much to the past. Repeatedly. Its like at this point we've already absorbed the lessons and have heard them so many times, its just a given. We can walk away without mentioning it and still know it.
We can divirt our minds from the past, marveling at our Charles Darwin, Galileo, Pythagorous, what have you, but we can look forward at what we can bring our art through our own achievements.
Not challenging your magic, Gregory.
-Daniel Taylor