--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why, if I were to believe what everyone…" description: "\"“Why, if I were to believe what everyone says about me, I would think myself quite, quite ugly. But I don't believe everyone, you see...I believe you b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/james-howe-12263_faith_why-if-i-were-to-believe-what-everyone-s_3083529.jpg" --- # Why, if I were to believe what everyone says about me, I… ![“Why, if I were to believe what everyone says about me, I would think myself quite, quite ugly. But I don't believe everyone, you see...I believe you because you are my friend. You think I'm beautiful, and so I am. —The Old One” quote by James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/james-howe-12263_faith_why-if-i-were-to-believe-what-everyone-s_3083529.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/james-howe-12263_faith_why-if-i-were-to-believe-what-everyone-s_3083529.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/james-howe-12263_faith_why-if-i-were-to-believe-what-everyone-s_3083529.jpg) > ““Why, if I were to believe what everyone says about me, I would think myself quite, quite ugly. But I don't believe everyone, you see...I believe you because you are my friend. You think I'm beautiful, and so I am. —The Old One”” [James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑esteem is shaped by trusted friends who affirm our worth, outweighing external judgments. **In simple terms:** Friend’s belief makes you feel beautiful. Key Takeaway Value supportive relationships. Themes self‑esteem friendship validation Mood affirming hopeful Type psychological inspirational When to use this quote - bullying - new friendships - team dynamics - personal growth Key Concepts identity social influence confidence Questions to Reflect On - Who in your life affirms your value? - How can you internalize positive feedback? A Different Perspective Reliance on others can be risky if friendships fail. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) ## Related quotes > [“Never believe a friend who offered you his friendship just because he was getting bored.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/never-believe-a-friend-who-offered-you-his-friendship-just-because-he/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [To believe in Christ is to give your heart to Christ, which means not to affirm things about Christ, but it's like what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/to-believe-in-christ-is-to-give-your-heart-to-christ-which-means-not/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Sometimes I choose to believe the only friend you got is yourself, even good friends are probably your worse enemyies due to they know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suga-pie-honey-bun/sometimes-i-choose-to-believe-the-only-friend-you-got-is-yourself/) [Suga Pie Honey Bun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suga-pie-honey-bun/) > [“I believe in you my friend, so much so, that if any of my ideas make you feel belittled in any manner, I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/i-believe-in-you-my-friend-so-much-so-that-if-any-of-my-ideas-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Your grief will fade…It's hard to believe this now, my friend…but it will wither and, like a flower, leave behind always a seed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaddey-ratner/your-grief-will-fade-it-s-hard-to-believe-this-now-my-friend-but-it/) [Vaddey Ratner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaddey-ratner/) > [Brothers and sisters, friends and enemies: I just can't believe everyone in here is a friend, and I don't want to leave anybody out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/brothers-and-sisters-friends-and-enemies-i-just-can-t-believe/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Its funny my friend,you said I always looks upset . But believe me,my friend. If your in my condition,i am sure you never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirnaya-basnet/its-funny-my-friend-you-said-i-always-looks-upset-but-believe-me-my/) [Nirnaya Basnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirnaya-basnet/) > [“He says, "I think there's a place where love equals history and a place where love equals the future and a place where love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-c-stevens/he-says-i-think-there-s-a-place-where-love-equals-history-and-a-place/) [Courtney C. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-c-stevens/) > [If anybody says he can think about quantum physics without getting giddy, that only shows he has not understood the first thing about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/if-anybody-says-he-can-think-about-quantum-physics-without-getting/) [Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/) > [“doctor says you think too much ,i said she lives in my mind too much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratik/doctor-says-you-think-too-much-i-said-she-lives-in-my-mind-too-much/) pratik > [When anyone says they often think something, it means they've just thought of it now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-frayn/when-anyone-says-they-often-think-something-it-means-they-ve-just/) [Michael Frayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-frayn/) > [If someone says they have to think about being with you, say no because you shouldn't be a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-someone-says-they-have-to-think-about-being-with-you-say-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My yoga teacher says to think of your thoughts like skateboarders passing through our line of vision; just watch them go by, don't try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bell/my-yoga-teacher-says-to-think-of-your-thoughts-like-skateboarders/) [Gabrielle Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bell/) > [“I pulled the dress out of the bag and held it in front of me. Ella sat up straighter and squinted her eyes, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaize-clement/i-pulled-the-dress-out-of-the-bag-and-held-it-in-front-of-me-ella-sat/) [Blaize Clement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaize-clement/) > [Griezmann needs to think about what he says. You have to think about where you are and what team you represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-niguez/griezmann-needs-to-think-about-what-he-says-you-have-to-think-about/) [Saul Niguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-niguez/) ## More by James Howe > [“Who do you see when you think of you? Are you an outsider, Cool, distant, angry, swimming against the current, or are you in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/who-do-you-see-when-you-think-of-you-are-you-an-outsider-cool-distant/) [James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) > [“The future is a trickster rabbit, full of surprises. Only the past is predictable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/the-future-is-a-trickster-rabbit-full-of-surprises-only-the-past-is/) [James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) > [So does being cool mean you get to go around calling other people names?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/so-does-being-cool-mean-you-get-to-go-around-calling-other-people/) [James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) > [“I am who I say I am, I'm not some fantasy of how you think you think you know or who I ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/i-am-who-i-say-i-am-i-m-not-some-fantasy-of-how-you-think-you-think/) [James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) > [And that's an even greater love: to love somebody when he's a little...worn at the edges. —Teddy Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/and-that-s-an-even-greater-love-to-love-somebody-when-he-s-a-little/) [James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) > [Crying can help, too. People are often afraid to cry because they are told that crying is for babies. Crying does not make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/crying-can-help-too-people-are-often-afraid-to-cry-because-they-are/) [James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) > [This business of really knowing people, deep down, including your own self, it is not something you can learn in school or from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/this-business-of-really-knowing-people-deep-down-including-your-own/) [James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) > [I hated that the soldier doll had my name. I mean, please. I didn't play with him much. He was another Christmas present from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/i-hated-that-the-soldier-doll-had-my-name-i-mean-please-i-didn-t-play/) [James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) > [“At this point, Chester started to bathe his tail, which is a cat's way of changing a subject he finds uncomfortable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/at-this-point-chester-started-to-bathe-his-tail-which-is-a-cat-s-way/) [James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) > [“Harold: "It so happens I was discussing great works of literature with Toby." Chester: "Since when is a Twinkies wrapper considered a great work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/harold-it-so-happens-i-was-discussing-great-works-of-literature-with/) [James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) > [“Harold (about max): he looks kinda like a football couch Chester (sarcastically): Yay team rah rah. if he says anything athletic i'll scream max:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/harold-about-max-he-looks-kinda-like-a-football-couch-chester/) [James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) > [Life is short and there will always be dirty dishes, so let's dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/life-is-short-and-there-will-always-be-dirty-dishes-so-let-s-dance/) [James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) > [“This business of really knowing people, deep down, including your own self, it is not something you can learn in school or from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/this-business-of-really-knowing-people-deep-down-including-your-own-2/) [James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) > [Sticks and stones may break our bones, but names will break our spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/sticks-and-stones-may-break-our-bones-but-names-will-break-our-spirit/) [James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) > [Sometimes I wish I were a character in a book and there was a writer out there giving me things to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/sometimes-i-wish-i-were-a-character-in-a-book-and-there-was-a-writer/) [James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) [Explore all 55 James Howe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) ## More Faith quotes > [“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/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [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/) > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“The only limitations for your life are the limiting beliefs in your mind. —Matt Morris”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-morris-1/the-only-limitations-for-your-life-are-the-limiting-beliefs-in-your/) Matt Morris (1 > [“Just because your faith is shaken doesn’t mean the faith is shaken. The eternal truths of the Kingdom aren’t altered or affected by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/just-because-your-faith-is-shaken-doesn-t-mean-the-faith-is-shaken/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) [Browse all 37,796 Faith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Why, if I were to believe what everyone says about me, I would think myself quite, quite ugly. But I don't believe everyone, you see...I believe you because you are my friend. You think I'm beautiful, and so I am. —The Old One”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Howe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/why-if-i-were-to-believe-what-everyone-says-about-me-i-would-think/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Faith" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/why-if-i-were-to-believe-what-everyone-says-about-me-i-would-think/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/james-howe-12263_faith_why-if-i-were-to-believe-what-everyone-s_3083529.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/james-howe-12263_faith_why-if-i-were-to-believe-what-everyone-s_3083529.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/james-howe-12263_faith_why-if-i-were-to-believe-what-everyone-s_3083529.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Why, if I were to believe what everyone says about me, I would think myself quite, quite ugly. But I don't…” — James Howe", "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": "James Howe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Why, if I were to believe...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/why-if-i-were-to-believe-what-everyone-says-about-me-i-would-think/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/why-if-i-were-to-believe-what-everyone-says-about-me-i-would-think/#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 } } ] } ```