--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What people really believe doesn't feel…" description: "\"What people really believe doesn't feel like a BELIEF, it feels like the way the world IS.\" — Eliezer Yudkowsky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_belief_what-people-really-believe-doesn-t-feel_3153490.png" --- # What people really believe doesn't feel like a BELIEF, it… ![“What people really believe doesn't feel like a BELIEF, it feels like the way the world IS.” quote by Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_belief_what-people-really-believe-doesn-t-feel_3153490.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_belief_what-people-really-believe-doesn-t-feel_3153490.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_belief_what-people-really-believe-doesn-t-feel_3153490.png) > “What people really believe doesn't feel like a BELIEF, it feels like the way the world IS.” [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It claims that deep beliefs are experienced as undeniable facts about reality, not just opinions. **In simple terms:** Strong beliefs feel like facts. Key Takeaway Recognize when belief feels like fact. Themes epistemology psychology belief reality Mood critical inquisitive Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - political discourse - scientific debate - personal values - media consumption Key Concepts cognitive bias worldview truth perception Questions to Reflect On - What beliefs feel unquestionable to you? - How do you test the reality of a belief? A Different Perspective Beliefs may be mistaken; questioning them can be uncomfortable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I'll watch things on OWN like 'Belief,' which is about faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-domingo/i-ll-watch-things-on-own-like-belief-which-is-about-faith/) [Colman Domingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-domingo/) > [People can be really smart or have skills that are directly applicable, but if they don't really believe in it, then they are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/people-can-be-really-smart-or-have-skills-that-are-directly/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [“No action is ever lost - nothing we do is without result. It's obvious, of course, but how many people ever really believe it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/no-action-is-ever-lost-nothing-we-do-is-without-result-it-s-obvious/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [It's sometimes shocking to find out what people really believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-ullman/it-s-sometimes-shocking-to-find-out-what-people-really-believe-in/) [Tracey Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-ullman/) > [What do people really believe in any more apart from sport and music?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ashcroft/what-do-people-really-believe-in-any-more-apart-from-sport-and-music/) [Richard Ashcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ashcroft/) > [People will really believe anything. You may have noticed this. It’s not just me. Look around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-proops/people-will-really-believe-anything-you-may-have-noticed-this-it-s/) [Greg Proops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-proops/) > [I personally have more faith than the average writer in people's willingness to be complicated, and so I'm thrilled by what's happened. I'm elated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-loceff/i-personally-have-more-faith-than-the-average-writer-in-people-s/) [Michael Loceff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-loceff/) > [“The Latin names of plants blur like belief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-duffy/the-latin-names-of-plants-blur-like-belief/) [Carol Ann Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-duffy/) > [The Good News does not hinge on words like do or change but on the powerless, irrelevant, and frightening words like belief and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-galli/the-good-news-does-not-hinge-on-words-like-do-or-change-but-on-the/) [Mark Galli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-galli/) > [But superstition, like belief, must die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/but-superstition-like-belief-must-die/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) > [We believe in the joy and power of music, and we also see that to make this kind of statement today, you need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-koner/we-believe-in-the-joy-and-power-of-music-and-we-also-see-that-to-make/) [Thomas Koner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-koner/) > [“What I like about this belief is that it makes people look for a big picture, and think more about how they behave in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniela-norris/what-i-like-about-this-belief-is-that-it-makes-people-look-for-a-big/) [Daniela Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniela-norris/) > [Like, I have a belief that if I wear my placenta in a necklace there's a possibility of me ... being psychic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kesha/like-i-have-a-belief-that-if-i-wear-my-placenta-in-a-necklace-there-s/) [Kesha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kesha/) > [You chose love like a belief, a faith, a place, a box for one's heart to knock against like a spook in the house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/you-chose-love-like-a-belief-a-faith-a-place-a-box-for-one-s-heart-to/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) > [“Belief in Fate, like belief in God, requires a certain suspension of disbelief, the ability to accept without physical proof that there is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-geissinger/belief-in-fate-like-belief-in-god-requires-a-certain-suspension-of/) [J.T. Geissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-geissinger/) ## More by Eliezer Yudkowsky > [“But I really am Ravenclaw, you know, not Slytherin. I don't want to rule the universe. I just think it could be more sensibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/but-i-really-am-ravenclaw-you-know-not-slytherin-i-don-t-want-to-rule/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“‎If you regard evidence as a constraint and seek to free yourself, you sell yourself into the chains of your whims. For you cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/if-you-regard-evidence-as-a-constraint-and-seek-to-free-yourself-you/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“I am not sure how to explain it, except that - truth matters to us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/i-am-not-sure-how-to-explain-it-except-that-truth-matters-to-us/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [I see little hope for democracy as an effective form of government, but I admire the poetry of how it makes its victims complicit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/i-see-little-hope-for-democracy-as-an-effective-form-of-government/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“He really really really shouldn't have done that. Amazing how much more obvious that became one second after it was too late.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/he-really-really-really-shouldn-t-have-done-that-amazing-how-much/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [I'm wondering if there's a spell to make lightning flash in the background whenever I make an ominous resolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/i-m-wondering-if-there-s-a-spell-to-make-lightning-flash-in-the/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“There’s a technique we use in our local rationalist cluster called “Is That Your True Rejection?”, and it works like this: Before you stake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/there-s-a-technique-we-use-in-our-local-rationalist-cluster-called-is/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [Lonely dissent doesn't feel like going to school dressed in black. It feels like going to school wearing a clown suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/lonely-dissent-doesn-t-feel-like-going-to-school-dressed-in-black-it/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“Knowing that Draco's hopeful face had probably been drilled into him by months of practice did not make it any less effective, Harry observed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/knowing-that-draco-s-hopeful-face-had-probably-been-drilled-into-him/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [The strength of a theory is not what it allows, but what it prohibits; if you can invent an equally persuasive explanation for any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/the-strength-of-a-theory-is-not-what-it-allows-but-what-it-prohibits/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [It is triple ultra forbidden to respond to criticism with violence. There are a very few injunctions in the human art of rationality that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/it-is-triple-ultra-forbidden-to-respond-to-criticism-with-violence/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [The human species was not born into a market economy. Bees won't sell you honey if you offer them an electronic funds transfer. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/the-human-species-was-not-born-into-a-market-economy-bees-won-t-sell/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“Frigideiro! " said Hermione again from the desk next to him. Her water was solid ice and there were white crystals forming on the rim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/frigideiro-said-hermione-again-from-the-desk-next-to-him-her-water/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“And then Harry Potter had launched in to a speech that was inspiring, yet vague. A speech to the effect that Fred and George…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/and-then-harry-potter-had-launched-in-to-a-speech-that-was-inspiring/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“And I know that I'd just make myself unhappy by comparing that reality to... something perfect that I built up in my imagination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/and-i-know-that-i-d-just-make-myself-unhappy-by-comparing-that/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) [Explore all 274 Eliezer Yudkowsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) ## 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": "What people really believe doesn't feel like a BELIEF, it feels like the way the world IS.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eliezer Yudkowsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/what-people-really-believe-doesn-t-feel-like-a-belief-it-feels-like/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/what-people-really-believe-doesn-t-feel-like-a-belief-it-feels-like/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_belief_what-people-really-believe-doesn-t-feel_3153490.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_belief_what-people-really-believe-doesn-t-feel_3153490.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_belief_what-people-really-believe-doesn-t-feel_3153490.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What people really believe doesn't feel like a BELIEF, it feels like the way the world IS.” — Eliezer Yudkowsky", "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": "Eliezer Yudkowsky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What people really believe doesn't feel...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/what-people-really-believe-doesn-t-feel-like-a-belief-it-feels-like/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/what-people-really-believe-doesn-t-feel-like-a-belief-it-feels-like/#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 } } ] } ```