--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The world is such-and-such or so-and-so…" description: "\"The world is such-and-such or so-and-so only because we tell ourselves that that is the way it is.\" — Carlos Castaneda" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/carlos-castaneda-1384_belief_the-world-is-such-and-such-or-so-and-so_2772906.jpg" --- # The world is such-and-such or so-and-so only because we… ![“The world is such-and-such or so-and-so only because we tell ourselves that that is the way it is.” quote by Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/carlos-castaneda-1384_belief_the-world-is-such-and-such-or-so-and-so_2772906.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/carlos-castaneda-1384_belief_the-world-is-such-and-such-or-so-and-so_2772906.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/carlos-castaneda-1384_belief_the-world-is-such-and-such-or-so-and-so_2772906.jpg) > “The world is such-and-such or so-and-so only because we tell ourselves that that is the way it is.” [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reality is shaped by our narratives; we accept what we tell ourselves as truth. **In simple terms:** Our stories create reality. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge limiting beliefs. Themes perception belief subjectivity Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - personal growth - therapy - education - media analysis - political discourse Key Concepts Phenomenology constructivism cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - What narratives limit you? - How can you reshape your perception? A Different Perspective May overlook objective facts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stress/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [You are like you are, because you tell yourself that you are that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/you-are-like-you-are-because-you-tell-yourself-that-you-are-that-way/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [“If you cannot tell me another way, do not brand me a tyrant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gaider/if-you-cannot-tell-me-another-way-do-not-brand-me-a-tyrant/) [David Gaider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gaider/) > [The world will ask you who you are, and if you don't know, the world will tell you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-world-will-ask-you-who-you-are-and-if-you-don-t-know-the-world/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Fuck the world and never tell them I love you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fuck-the-world-and-never-tell-them-i-love-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you want to fool the world tell the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha/if-you-want-to-fool-the-world-tell-the-truth/) [Aisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha/) > [“Who made the world I cannot tell; 'Tis made, and here I am in hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/who-made-the-world-i-cannot-tell-tis-made-and-here-i-am-in-hell/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [Don't you ever let a soul in the world tell you that you can't be exactly who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/don-t-you-ever-let-a-soul-in-the-world-tell-you-that-you-can-t-be/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [“Don't let the world tell you what you can't do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/don-t-let-the-world-tell-you-what-you-can-t-do/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [Nobody in the world can tell me I'm not a professional athlete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hardy/nobody-in-the-world-can-tell-me-i-m-not-a-professional-athlete/) [Dan Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hardy/) > [We can spend our lives letting the world tell us who we are…Or we can decide for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/we-can-spend-our-lives-letting-the-world-tell-us-who-we-are-or-we-can/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [The world has to tell us. In other words, we don't have an agenda or a battle plan or a map or a direction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/the-world-has-to-tell-us-in-other-words-we-don-t-have-an-agenda-or-a/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [Dont you ever let a soul in the world tell you that you cant be exactly who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-you-ever-let-a-soul-in-the-world-tell-you-that-you-cant-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We can spend our lives letting the world tell us who we are. Sane or insane. Saints or sex addicts. Heros or victims. Letting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/we-can-spend-our-lives-letting-the-world-tell-us-who-we-are-sane-or/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Dreams really tell you about yourself more than anything else in this world could ever tell you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-browne/dreams-really-tell-you-about-yourself-more-than-anything-else-in-this/) [Sylvia Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-browne/) > [We're living in a technological world. You cannot tell me we can't do a better job getting that information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-re-living-in-a-technological-world-you-cannot-tell-me-we-can-t-do/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## More by Carlos Castaneda > [A warrior, or any man for that matter, cannot possibly wish he were somewhere else; a warrior because he lives by challenge, an ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/a-warrior-or-any-man-for-that-matter-cannot-possibly-wish-he-were/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [You see all of us go through the same doubts. We are afraid of being mad; unfortunately for us, of course, all of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/you-see-all-of-us-go-through-the-same-doubts-we-are-afraid-of-being/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Intent is what can make a man succeed when his thoughts tell him that he is defeated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/intent-is-what-can-make-a-man-succeed-when-his-thoughts-tell-him-that/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [The shadows in the early morning don't tell much. The shadows rest at that time. So it's useless to gaze very early in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/the-shadows-in-the-early-morning-don-t-tell-much-the-shadows-rest-at/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [One can say that the nagual accounts for creativity. The nagual is the only part of us that can create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/one-can-say-that-the-nagual-accounts-for-creativity-the-nagual-is-the/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Do you know at this very moment you are surrounded by eternity? And do you know that you can use that eternity if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/do-you-know-at-this-very-moment-you-are-surrounded-by-eternity-and-do/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [When a warrior learns to stop the internal dialogue, everything becomes possible; the most far-fetched schemes become attainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/when-a-warrior-learns-to-stop-the-internal-dialogue-everything/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Nothing in this world is a gift. Whatever must be learned must be learned the hard way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/nothing-in-this-world-is-a-gift-whatever-must-be-learned-must-be/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Our normal expectations about reality are created by a social consensus. We are taught how to see and understand the world. The trick of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/our-normal-expectations-about-reality-are-created-by-a-social/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Inner silence works from the moment you begin to accrue it. What the old sorcerers were after was the final dramatic, end result of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/inner-silence-works-from-the-moment-you-begin-to-accrue-it-what-the/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [In a world where death is the hunter, my friend, there is no time for regrets or doubts. There is only time for decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/in-a-world-where-death-is-the-hunter-my-friend-there-is-no-time-for/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Fright is something one can never get over. When a warrior is caught in such a tight spot he would simply turn his back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/fright-is-something-one-can-never-get-over-when-a-warrior-is-caught/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [You're in a terrible spot. It's too late for you to retreat but too soon to act. All you can do is witness. You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/you-re-in-a-terrible-spot-it-s-too-late-for-you-to-retreat-but-too/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [A hunter that is worth his salt does not catch game because he sets his traps, or because he knows the hunting routines of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/a-hunter-that-is-worth-his-salt-does-not-catch-game-because-he-sets/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [If you were a warrior, you would know that the worst thing one can do is confront human beings directly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/if-you-were-a-warrior-you-would-know-that-the-worst-thing-one-can-do/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) [Explore all 244 Carlos Castaneda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The world is such-and-such or so-and-so only because we tell ourselves that that is the way it is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Carlos Castaneda" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/the-world-is-such-and-such-or-so-and-so-only-because-we-tell/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/the-world-is-such-and-such-or-so-and-so-only-because-we-tell/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/carlos-castaneda-1384_belief_the-world-is-such-and-such-or-so-and-so_2772906.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/carlos-castaneda-1384_belief_the-world-is-such-and-such-or-so-and-so_2772906.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/carlos-castaneda-1384_belief_the-world-is-such-and-such-or-so-and-so_2772906.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The world is such-and-such or so-and-so only because we tell ourselves that that is the way it is.” — Carlos Castaneda", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Carlos Castaneda", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The world is such-and-such or so-and-so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/the-world-is-such-and-such-or-so-and-so-only-because-we-tell/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/the-world-is-such-and-such-or-so-and-so-only-because-we-tell/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```