Flavor text/Real-world quotations

Magic cards have used real-world quotations (from classics and modern literature, the bible, famous speeches and sayings) in flavor text since Alpha. They were considered to have an immediate impact and built-in sense of history that in-setting flavor text also strived for, yet would take on subtly novel shades of meaning when presented on a Magic card. Later, R&D stopped doing them in order to devote more space to their own created worlds, characters and stories. For copyright reasons, the quotations were preferably in the public domain, from a source at least 100 years old.

The Dark was the last expansion set to feature real-world quotations. According to Mark Rosewater, a compromise was reached that the basic set would have literary quotes and the expert expansions wouldn't, in order to showcase their own worlds. He argued that real-world literature would take players out of the world of dueling wizards and according to some, would make them feel like they're in school. Rosewater also stated that they wanted Magic to be fun, not "edutainment." Since then, literary quotes were relegated to starter-level set, core sets, promotional cards and From the Vault. They were eventually slowly phased out, making their last appearance in Magic 2014. However, they were revisited in 2020 on a card from the Secret Lair Happy Little Gathering Drop featuring Bob Ross's artwork and one of his characteristic quotes.

According to research on this topic by Wizards of the Coast, the majority of people enjoy in world Magic flavor text over real world quotes.