--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: \"Then what do you see?\" asked Irene, who…" description: "\"“ \"Then what do you see?\" asked Irene, who perceived at once that for her not to believe him was at least as bad as for him not to believe her.”\" — Geo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/george-macdonald-295_believe-bad_then-what-do-you-see-asked-irene-who-per_448690.png" --- # "Then what do you see?" asked Irene, who perceived at once… ![“"Then what do you see?" asked Irene, who perceived at once that for her not to believe him was at least as bad as for him not to believe her.” quote by George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/george-macdonald-295_believe-bad_then-what-do-you-see-asked-irene-who-per_448690.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/george-macdonald-295_believe-bad_then-what-do-you-see-asked-irene-who-per_448690.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/george-macdonald-295_believe-bad_then-what-do-you-see-asked-irene-who-per_448690.png) > ““ "Then what do you see?" asked Irene, who perceived at once that for her not to believe him was at least as bad as for him not to believe her.”” [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A dialogue about mutual belief, suggesting that doubting each other can be equally damaging as not believing at all. **In simple terms:** Both sides need trust; lack of belief harms both. Key Takeaway Foster mutual trust and open communication. Themes trust communication relationship belief mutuality Mood thoughtful reflective serious Type philosophical relational dialogue When to use this quote - marriage counseling - team building - friendship conflicts - spiritual discussions Key Concepts existentialism interpersonal dynamics faith Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance belief and skepticism? - What happens when trust is absent? A Different Perspective Assumes equal power dynamics in belief. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asked Irene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-irene-3920674/) [Bad Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-believe-1022368/) [Believe Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-bad/) [Irene Perceived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irene-perceived-3920673/) [Perceived Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perceived-believe-3920675/) ## Related quotes > [I don't believe in bad. I believe in relativity. The only way we can know what we call good is if there's also something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-don-t-believe-in-bad-i-believe-in-relativity-the-only-way-we-can/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [If someone has been bad to me, I believe in being good to that person. It's my way of getting back. Because that person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madhuri-dixit/if-someone-has-been-bad-to-me-i-believe-in-being-good-to-that-person/) [Madhuri Dixit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madhuri-dixit/) > [If you tell children they are bad, that's what they believe they are and that's probably what they will become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hart/if-you-tell-children-they-are-bad-that-s-what-they-believe-they-are/) [Louise Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hart/) > [It is bad to believe you in error. It would be infinitely worse to have known you a hypocrite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/it-is-bad-to-believe-you-in-error-it-would-be-infinitely-worse-to/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [If you wish to be good, first believe that you are bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-wish-to-be-good-first-believe-that-you-are-bad/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [I believe that one bad decision should not define a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/i-believe-that-one-bad-decision-should-not-define-a-person/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [People will question all the things they hear about you but believe all the bad without a second thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-will-question-all-the-things-they-hear-about-you-but-believe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I believe the good, then I have to believe the bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/if-i-believe-the-good-then-i-have-to-believe-the-bad/) [Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/) > [I don't read reviews or interviews or anything, just because I'm afraid; If I believed the good, then I'd believe the bad, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia-furler/i-don-t-read-reviews-or-interviews-or-anything-just-because-i-m/) [Sia Furler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia-furler/) > [If you believe that something is good, and you do it, it benefits you. If you believe that something is bad, and you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/if-you-believe-that-something-is-good-and-you-do-it-it-benefits-you/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [People believe in bad karma. But what about if you do good, good things will come to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-believe-in-bad-karma-but-what-about-if-you-do-good-good-things/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People will question all the good things they hear a bout you but believe all the bad without a second thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-jush/people-will-question-all-the-good-things-they-hear-a-bout-you-but/) [El Jush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-jush/) > [I don't believe in bad and good, I believe we are all a mix of both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demian-bichir/i-don-t-believe-in-bad-and-good-i-believe-we-are-all-a-mix-of-both/) [Demian Bichir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demian-bichir/) > [People will question all the good things they hear about you, but believe all the bad things without a second thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/people-will-question-all-the-good-things-they-hear-about-you-but/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [A preacher who doesn't believe he's that bad will attract people who don't think they're that bad. And that's bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/a-preacher-who-doesn-t-believe-he-s-that-bad-will-attract-people-who/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) ## More by George MacDonald > [“No revelation can be other than partial. If for true revelation a man must be told all the truth, then farewell to revelation; yea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/no-revelation-can-be-other-than-partial-if-for-true-revelation-a-man/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [In low theologies, hell is invariably the deepest truth, and the love of God is not so deep as hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/in-low-theologies-hell-is-invariably-the-deepest-truth-and-the-love/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Life and religion are one, or neither is any thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/life-and-religion-are-one-or-neither-is-any-thing/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [The region belonging to the pure intellect is straitened: the imagination labours to extend its territories, to give it room. She sweeps across the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/the-region-belonging-to-the-pure-intellect-is-straitened-the/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Come, then, affliction, if my Father wills, and be my frowning friend. A friend that frowns is better than a smiling enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/come-then-affliction-if-my-father-wills-and-be-my-frowning-friend-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Ah, what is it we send up thither, where our thoughts are either a dissonance or a sweetness and a grace?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/ah-what-is-it-we-send-up-thither-where-our-thoughts-are-either-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [You must learn to be strong in the dark as well as in the day, else you will always be only half brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/you-must-learn-to-be-strong-in-the-dark-as-well-as-in-the-day-else/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Few delights can equal the mere presence of one whom we trust utterly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/few-delights-can-equal-the-mere-presence-of-one-whom-we-trust-utterly/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“You have tasted of death now,” said the old man. “Is it good?” “It is good,” said Mossy. “It is better than life.” “No,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/you-have-tasted-of-death-now-said-the-old-man-is-it-good-it-is-good/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [ “I wish I had \[made that song\]. No, I don't That would be to take it from somebody else. But it's mine for all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-wish-i-had-made-that-song-no-i-don-t-that-would-be-to-take-it-from/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Past tears are present strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/past-tears-are-present-strength/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Age is not all decay; it is the ripening, the swelling, of the fresh life within, that withers and bursts the husk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/age-is-not-all-decay-it-is-the-ripening-the-swelling-of-the-fresh/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [I want to help you grow as beautiful as God meant you to be when he thought of you first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-want-to-help-you-grow-as-beautiful-as-god-meant-you-to-be-when-he/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Immeasurably imperfect it was, but false the impression could not be, for she saw with the eyes made for seeing, and saw indeed what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/immeasurably-imperfect-it-was-but-false-the-impression-could-not-be/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Those that hope little cannot grow much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/those-that-hope-little-cannot-grow-much/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) [Explore all 720 George MacDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## More Believe Bad quotes > [A preacher who doesn't believe he's that bad will attract people who don't think they're that bad. And that's bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/a-preacher-who-doesn-t-believe-he-s-that-bad-will-attract-people-who/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [People will question all the good things they hear about you, but believe all the bad things without a second thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/people-will-question-all-the-good-things-they-hear-about-you-but/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I don't believe in bad and good, I believe we are all a mix of both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demian-bichir/i-don-t-believe-in-bad-and-good-i-believe-we-are-all-a-mix-of-both/) [Demian Bichir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demian-bichir/) > [People will question all the good things they hear a bout you but believe all the bad without a second thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-jush/people-will-question-all-the-good-things-they-hear-a-bout-you-but/) [El Jush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-jush/) > [People believe in bad karma. But what about if you do good, good things will come to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-believe-in-bad-karma-but-what-about-if-you-do-good-good-things/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you believe that something is good, and you do it, it benefits you. If you believe that something is bad, and you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/if-you-believe-that-something-is-good-and-you-do-it-it-benefits-you/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [I don't read reviews or interviews or anything, just because I'm afraid; If I believed the good, then I'd believe the bad, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia-furler/i-don-t-read-reviews-or-interviews-or-anything-just-because-i-m/) [Sia Furler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia-furler/) > [If I believe the good, then I have to believe the bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/if-i-believe-the-good-then-i-have-to-believe-the-bad/) [Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/) > [People will question all the things they hear about you but believe all the bad without a second thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-will-question-all-the-things-they-hear-about-you-but-believe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe that one bad decision should not define a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/i-believe-that-one-bad-decision-should-not-define-a-person/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [If you wish to be good, first believe that you are bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-wish-to-be-good-first-believe-that-you-are-bad/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [I don't read reviews, and I try not to read articles about me. It taints your outlook: if you believe the good things, you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-langford/i-don-t-read-reviews-and-i-try-not-to-read-articles-about-me-it/) [Bonnie Langford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-langford/) > [If you do something good, a question box will open for its authenticity, but people will believe something bad about you without giving a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-sinha/if-you-do-something-good-a-question-box-will-open-for-its/) [Anil Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-sinha/) > [I don't believe that. I don't believe that there are bad things about you. Only things that you think are bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-sorensen/i-don-t-believe-that-i-don-t-believe-that-there-are-bad-things-about/) [Jessica Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-sorensen/) > [People will question all the good things they hear about you and believe all the bad without a second thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-will-question-all-the-good-things-they-hear-about-you-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 63 Believe Bad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-bad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“ \"Then what do you see?\" asked Irene, who perceived at once that for her not to believe him was at least as bad as for him not to believe her.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George MacDonald" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/then-what-do-you-see-asked-irene-who-perceived-at-once-that-for-her/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe Bad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/then-what-do-you-see-asked-irene-who-perceived-at-once-that-for-her/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/george-macdonald-295_believe-bad_then-what-do-you-see-asked-irene-who-per_448690.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/george-macdonald-295_believe-bad_then-what-do-you-see-asked-irene-who-per_448690.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/george-macdonald-295_believe-bad_then-what-do-you-see-asked-irene-who-per_448690.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“\"Then what do you see?\" asked Irene, who perceived at once that for her not to believe him was at least as…” — George MacDonald", "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": "George MacDonald", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“ \"Then what do you see?\"...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/then-what-do-you-see-asked-irene-who-perceived-at-once-that-for-her/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/then-what-do-you-see-asked-irene-who-perceived-at-once-that-for-her/#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 } } ] } ```