Official truths are often powerful illusions.

In my reporting, I've found that real change escapes many change-makers because powerful illusions guide their projects.

— Anand Giridharadas

“The masses have never thirsted after truth. They turn aside from evidence that is not to their taste, preferring to deify error, if error…

— Gustave Le Bon

“Subhuti, someone might fill innumerable worlds with the seven treasures and give all away in gifts of alms, but if any good man or…

— Siddhārtha Gautama

“Expectations are illusions; Pretense they hang on thin threads.”

— sir kristian goldmund aumann

“we are set free from all the illusions we fostered for so many years of our life.”

— Cornelius Wencel

The most important part of our lives-our sensations, emotions, desires, and aspirations-takes place in a universe of illusions which science can attenuate or destroy,…

— Joseph Wood Krutch

Of course she had some pathetic illusions about herself or she would not be able to go on living.

— Jean Rhys

“The more you think about illusions, the more they'll swell up and take on form. And no longer be an illusion.”

— Haruki Murakami

“A great magician is not more magical than other magicians; he is just more magical in his presentation.”

— Amit Kalantri

Strange, isn't it, that no chemical will give a human being the iridescence that illusions have given them? Give me your hat.

— Anais Nin

“Fear best lends itself to the creation of Nature-defying illusions.”

— H.P. Lovecraft

“If men could see us as we really are, they would be a little amazed; but the cleverest, the acutest men are often under…

— Charlotte Brontë

Things aren't always as they appear. I've been believing things to be a certain way because I want them to be that way. I…

— Brett Dennen

Life and death are illusions. We are in a constant state of transformation.

— Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…

— Oli Anderson