--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the human being says: 'It is not…" description: "\"“When the human being says: 'It is not true...' He may mean: 'I don't know about it, so I think it is untrue.' Or: 'I don't like it.”\" — Idries Shah" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/idries-shah-450_desire_when-the-human-being-says-it-is-not-true_251053.jpg" --- # When the human being says: 'It is not true...' He may… ![“When the human being says: 'It is not true...' He may mean: 'I don't know about it, so I think it is untrue.' Or: 'I don't like it.” quote by Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/idries-shah-450_desire_when-the-human-being-says-it-is-not-true_251053.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/idries-shah-450_desire_when-the-human-being-says-it-is-not-true_251053.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/idries-shah-450_desire_when-the-human-being-says-it-is-not-true_251053.jpg) > ““When the human being says: 'It is not true...' He may mean: 'I don't know about it, so I think it is untrue.' Or: 'I don't like it.”” [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human beings often claim something is false because they lack knowledge or dislike it, confusing ignorance with certainty. **In simple terms:** People label things false when they don’t understand or dislike them. Key Takeaway Seek knowledge before judging. Themes knowledge bias perception Mood analytical inquisitive Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - education - media consumption - personal reflection Key Concepts epistemology psychology Questions to Reflect On - Why do we dismiss what we don’t know? - How can we differentiate ignorance from truth? A Different Perspective Overcoming bias requires effort and humility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Greed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) ## Related quotes > [“But you're - your'e not-' Ryan stops, swallows, starts again. 'You're not human,' he says.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-knudsen/but-you-re-your-e-not-ryan-stops-swallows-starts-again-you-re-not/) [Michelle Knudsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-knudsen/) > [“My brain works perfectly," she says. "I see a disgusting human being and it says die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-ritchie-kristia-ritchie/my-brain-works-perfectly-she-says-i-see-a-disgusting-human-being-and/) Becca Ritchie & Kristia Ritchie > [“The problem is that the spurious, the unreal, the untrue is so much easier to find that it is in danger of becoming the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/the-problem-is-that-the-spurious-the-unreal-the-untrue-is-so-much/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To those supporters who were told that I abandoned them, that is untrue. 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S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/) > [If at first you don't succeed, try reading the instructions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-nemec/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-try-reading-the-instructions/) Daniel Nemec > [“When in the presence of a USA law enforcement, remember that sudden moves, running away, driving away, moving towards them, not following instructions, having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/when-in-the-presence-of-a-usa-law-enforcement-remember-that-sudden/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [You couldnt handle me even if I came with Instructions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syoung/you-couldnt-handle-me-even-if-i-came-with-instructions/) Syoung > [“You can do the right thing that seems wrong to others, or the wrong thing that seems right, and its actually puerile to await…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/you-can-do-the-right-thing-that-seems-wrong-to-others-or-the-wrong/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“It is better to consult God’s instruction than seek your own ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/it-is-better-to-consult-god-s-instruction-than-seek-your-own-ways/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I spend a fair amount of time on my computer, but I don't hack into anything. I have to open the manual and follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-ritter/i-spend-a-fair-amount-of-time-on-my-computer-but-i-don-t-hack-into/) [Jason Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-ritter/) > [At one point, Sarah Palin sent her husband instructions to stock up on 'fresh fruit and veggies' for the kids, and 'as little processed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/at-one-point-sarah-palin-sent-her-husband-instructions-to-stock-up-on/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [Obama did organize a great large number of people and many enthusiastic people, what's called in the press 'Obama's Army.' But the army is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/obama-did-organize-a-great-large-number-of-people-and-many/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More by Idries Shah > [“To be a Sufi is to detach from fixed ideas and from preconceptions; and not to try to avoid what is your lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/to-be-a-sufi-is-to-detach-from-fixed-ideas-and-from-preconceptions/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“Teach honesty by all means - you do know what it is, don't you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/teach-honesty-by-all-means-you-do-know-what-it-is-don-t-you/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“Sufism is transmitted by means of the human exemplar, the teacher.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/sufism-is-transmitted-by-means-of-the-human-exemplar-the-teacher/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“No existe práctica en aislamiento.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/no-existe-pr-ctica-en-aislamiento/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [A king who feared wasps once decreed that they were abolished. As it happened, they did him no harm. But he was eventually stung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/a-king-who-feared-wasps-once-decreed-that-they-were-abolished-as-it/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“Do not tell your secrets to everyone in this headquarters, Earth. We have surveyed it well. There was nobody to whom to entrust secrets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/do-not-tell-your-secrets-to-everyone-in-this-headquarters-earth-we/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“Sufis are those who have expunged from their minds the human tendencies of envy and enmity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/sufis-are-those-who-have-expunged-from-their-minds-the-human/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“Yes, the world is an illusion. But Truth is always being shown there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/yes-the-world-is-an-illusion-but-truth-is-always-being-shown-there/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [It is the message, not the man, which is important to the Sufis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/it-is-the-message-not-the-man-which-is-important-to-the-sufis/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [The human being, whether he realises it or not, is trusting someone or something every moment of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/the-human-being-whether-he-realises-it-or-not-is-trusting-someone-or/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“Who is the wrong person to criticise? You”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/who-is-the-wrong-person-to-criticise-you/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“You may be able to get the bone down your throat But if it reaches your stomach it will tear your navel. (Gulistan)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/you-may-be-able-to-get-the-bone-down-your-throat-but-if-it-reaches/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“People are always trying to understand. There is only one way to do that. It is to discover < + i + >why< +…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/people-are-always-trying-to-understand-there-is-only-one-way-to-do/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [We view Sufism not as an ideology that molds people to the right way of belief or action, but as an art or science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/we-view-sufism-not-as-an-ideology-that-molds-people-to-the-right-way/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) [Explore all 365 Idries Shah quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) ## More Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) [Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When the human being says: 'It is not true...' He may mean: 'I don't know about it, so I think it is untrue.' 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