Expert: Maria - 4/8/2008

Question
Mundus vult decipi, deciptimur

Supposedly, it means "The world wants to be deceived, so then, let us deceive it."

Answer
Hello,

first of all the correct Latin sentence  reads  as follows:

-“ Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiamus” [The world wants to be deceived, so then  let us deceive it]
or :
“Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur” [The world wants to be deceived, so then let it be deceived ]

This phrase, which is ascribed to the Roman satirist Petronius, known as Petronius, Arbiter Elegantiarum (Arbiter of Elegance) died in 66 AD, wants to point out people's credulity, i.e. tendency to believe readily, without thinking it over.
Therefore it has been adopted by contemporary magicians as it can be just apply to  credulity of those people who attend their performances.

Best regards,
Maria
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Note that:

-MUNDUS (nominative singular)= the world

-VULT (3rd.person singular,present of VOLO, I want) = wants

-DECIPI  (Infinitive, passive form, of DECIPIO, I deceive) = to be deceived

- ERGO = so then

-DECIPIAMUS (1st.person plural, hortatory subjunctive  of DECIPIO) = let us deceive it  

-DECIPIATUR (3rd.person singular, passive form, hortatory subjunctive  of DECIPIO) = let it be deceived