--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Things aren't always as they appear. I've…" description: "\"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 build up illusions in my head..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/293/brett-dennen-11865_believe_things-aren-t-always-as-they-appear-i-ve_10441.jpg" --- # Things aren't always as they appear. I've been believing… ![“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 build up illusions in my head.” quote by Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/293/brett-dennen-11865_believe_things-aren-t-always-as-they-appear-i-ve_10441.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/293/brett-dennen-11865_believe_things-aren-t-always-as-they-appear-i-ve_10441.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/293/brett-dennen-11865_believe_things-aren-t-always-as-they-appear-i-ve_10441.jpg) > “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 build up illusions in my head.” [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perception is colored by desire; we often construct mental narratives that fit our wishes rather than reality. **In simple terms:** Desire distorts perception. Key Takeaway Recognize self‑deception. Themes perception cognition bias self‑awareness psychology Mood reflective cautious inquisitive Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - making decisions under uncertainty - evaluating relationships - career planning - personal goal setting - interpreting news Key Concepts cognitive bias self‑fulfilling prophecy illusion confirmation bias Practical Applications - critical thinking training - counseling techniques Questions to Reflect On - What evidence challenges my current belief? - How might my hopes be shaping my interpretation? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Illusions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusions/) ## Related quotes > [If you keep believing what you've been believing, then you'll keep achieving what you've been achieving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/if-you-keep-believing-what-you-ve-been-believing-then-you-ll-keep/) [Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/) > [“if every one has faith, where did it come from? And then they do say that it all comes from terror at the menacing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/if-every-one-has-faith-where-did-it-come-from-and-then-they-do-say/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [Lately I've been believing that music predates speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-harry/lately-i-ve-been-believing-that-music-predates-speech/) [Debbie Harry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-harry/) > [“As for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/as-for-believing-things-i-can-believe-anything-provided-that-it-is/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Sometimes we may seem to be resisting letting go, when really, we just can't see a way to move forward — believing things can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/sometimes-we-may-seem-to-be-resisting-letting-go-when-really-we-just/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“I guess I have a hard time believing in things I can't see.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/i-guess-i-have-a-hard-time-believing-in-things-i-can-t-see/) [Morgan Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/) > [“When it comes to religion, we have a funny habit of believing things that make us feel better about ourselves." "What do you mean?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-wilde/when-it-comes-to-religion-we-have-a-funny-habit-of-believing-things/) [Jerome Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-wilde/) > [“I am quite sure I shall understand it, and as for believing things, I can believe anything provided that it is quite incredible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-am-quite-sure-i-shall-understand-it-and-as-for-believing-things-i/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I can't prove it, but I'm pretty sure that people gain a selective advantage from believing in things they can't prove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-m-nesse/i-can-t-prove-it-but-i-m-pretty-sure-that-people-gain-a-selective/) [Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-m-nesse/) > [Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-seaton/faith-is-believing-in-things-when-common-sense-tells-you-not-to/) [George Seaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-seaton/) > [Not that believing such things has anything to do with whether they are true. You see that, don't you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ball/not-that-believing-such-things-has-anything-to-do-with-whether-they/) [Jesse Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ball/) > [I found out I'd spent my whole life believing things that weren't necessarily accurate. My sisters' memories of certain events are entirely different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/i-found-out-i-d-spent-my-whole-life-believing-things-that-weren-t/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) > [“...to have true faith means believing in things you cannot see just as true love sometimes means making choices you never thought you'd have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-watts/to-have-true-faith-means-believing-in-things-you-cannot-see-just-as/) J.D. Watts > [We're lying ourselves into believing things are untrue, like organic food will solve all our problems, or vitamins will make us healthy, or we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/we-re-lying-ourselves-into-believing-things-are-untrue-like-organic/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [Life and death are illusions. We are in a constant state of transformation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/life-and-death-are-illusions-we-are-in-a-constant-state-of/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) ## More by Brett Dennen > [What I strive to do with songwriting is be really honest, authentic and try to be open and share that with people. I choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/what-i-strive-to-do-with-songwriting-is-be-really-honest-authentic/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [I want to write songs with meaning. I have high standards for my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/i-want-to-write-songs-with-meaning-i-have-high-standards-for-my-work/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [When you get to say something in a song you're not directing it necessarily at one person. When it's in a song it's easier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/when-you-get-to-say-something-in-a-song-you-re-not-directing-it/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [Paul Simon is my absolute hero. He's one of a kind. He wrote his own ticket in life by being himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/paul-simon-is-my-absolute-hero-he-s-one-of-a-kind-he-wrote-his-own/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [I sing the best when I'm really in my voice. It's kind of like I'm meditating but I sort of imagine my voice as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/i-sing-the-best-when-i-m-really-in-my-voice-it-s-kind-of-like-i-m/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [“The wind blows wild and i may move, politicians lie and i am not fooled you don't need a razor or a three piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/the-wind-blows-wild-and-i-may-move-politicians-lie-and-i-am-not/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [I know musicians who think that drumming and guitaring can be very meditative, but singing is different because when you think about things, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/i-know-musicians-who-think-that-drumming-and-guitaring-can-be-very/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [Nothing has happened too fast, nothing has happened too slow. It has been a mellow rise, and I'm thankful for that. I haven't lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/nothing-has-happened-too-fast-nothing-has-happened-too-slow-it-has/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [Songs don't really feel like me unless I somehow shed a little secret or open myself somehow or be vulnerable. When I'm singing these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/songs-don-t-really-feel-like-me-unless-i-somehow-shed-a-little-secret/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [Blessed is this life and I'm going to celebrate being alive!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/blessed-is-this-life-and-i-m-going-to-celebrate-being-alive/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [I love being creative, and for me it doesn't matter what it is - whether it's art or music or just daydreaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/i-love-being-creative-and-for-me-it-doesn-t-matter-what-it-is-whether/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [I can't really write unless I'm full of inspiration. And even then I can't write unless I have some alone time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/i-can-t-really-write-unless-i-m-full-of-inspiration-and-even-then-i/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [If I hear a really good song it's like, oh man, I want to write a song that good. But the urge to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/if-i-hear-a-really-good-song-it-s-like-oh-man-i-want-to-write-a-song/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [Everyone wants to know what kind of music their favorite artist listens to. It feels good to. I don't try to dwell on that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/everyone-wants-to-know-what-kind-of-music-their-favorite-artist/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [A sunny, happy day is beautiful, but when it's moody, and storm is coming, there's an energy in the air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/a-sunny-happy-day-is-beautiful-but-when-it-s-moody-and-storm-is/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) [Explore all 57 Brett Dennen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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. 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