[wronskian]

I wonder if you're thinking of this interview by Teller : http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/teller-reveals-hi...

"Make the trick more trouble than it's worth."

I have read that article many times, it's a wonderfully illuminating piece of writing.

[astrodust]

Magic tricks and con artists employ many of the same tricks. A convincing con is one so elaborate it looks like it'd be too expensive to perform, would require way too much rehearsal if it was really a con, so people are lulled into complacency.

Maybe it's that one form is being deceptive to entertain, the other to steal, but they have a lot of commonality.

[dzdt]

Yes! That is the quote I was looking for.