--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whether or not that’s how it is,” I said…" description: "\"“Whether or not that’s how it is,” I said, “we must live according to what we believe, not the beliefs of others.” “The beliefs of others are not irrel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/jo-graham-39801_faith_whether-or-not-that-s-how-it-is-i-said-w_632538.jpg" --- # Whether or not that’s how it is,” I said, “we must live… ![“Whether or not that’s how it is,” I said, “we must live according to what we believe, not the beliefs of others.” “The beliefs of others are not irrelevant, not when they shape the world we live in!” “I didn’t say they were irrelevant. But they will never dictate my judgment or my decisions,” I…” quote by Jo Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/jo-graham-39801_faith_whether-or-not-that-s-how-it-is-i-said-w_632538.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/jo-graham-39801_faith_whether-or-not-that-s-how-it-is-i-said-w_632538.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/jo-graham-39801_faith_whether-or-not-that-s-how-it-is-i-said-w_632538.jpg) > ““Whether or not that’s how it is,” I said, “we must live according to what we believe, not the beliefs of others.” “The beliefs of others are not irrelevant, not when they shape the world we live in!” “I didn’t say they were irrelevant. But they will never dictate my judgment or my decisions,” I snapped back. “Because others believe something does not make it true. You are not stupid because Plato says you must be, nor is Cleopatra a whore because some Roman wit will say it. I will never trust any learned opinion more than what I see in front of my face.”” [Jo Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-graham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Live by personal convictions, not merely by others’ beliefs, while acknowledging their influence on reality. **In simple terms:** Follow your own beliefs, but notice how others shape the world. Key Takeaway Trust your own observations over external authority. Themes individualism critical thinking social influence Mood reflective determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - making personal decisions - debating ideas - evaluating information - navigating social pressure Key Concepts epistemology autonomy bias perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal conviction with societal influence? - When should you trust expert opinion? A Different Perspective Overemphasizing personal belief can ignore valuable external insights. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [According Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/according-believe-1929586/) [Beliefs Irrelevant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs-irrelevant-5094395/) [Believe Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-beliefs-927727/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Plato Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plato-says-2887327/) [Says Cleopatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-cleopatra-5094396/) ## Related quotes > [Every man gives his life for what he believes ... one life is all we have to live and we live it according to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-of-arc/every-man-gives-his-life-for-what-he-believes-one-life-is-all-we-have/) [Joan of Arc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-of-arc/) > [“No matter how painful it might be...I'll do everything in my might! 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There's nothing you can do to change their minds. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaitlyn-bristowe/some-people-have-different-beliefs-and-aren-t-going-to-agree-with/) [Kaitlyn Bristowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaitlyn-bristowe/) > [“We all need something to believe in. Without those beliefs we're just floating particles moving through the space time continuum.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solange-nicole/we-all-need-something-to-believe-in-without-those-beliefs-we-re-just/) [Solange nicole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solange-nicole/) > [“Sasha,' Kessligh said around his mouthful, 'if you'd seen as many people killed as I have, all because one of them believes this thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-shepherd/sasha-kessligh-said-around-his-mouthful-if-you-d-seen-as-many-people/) [Joel Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-shepherd/) > [I don't trust politicians. I think that by the time they've made it, with the concessions they've had to make in that position, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-astley/i-don-t-trust-politicians-i-think-that-by-the-time-they-ve-made-it/) [Rick Astley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-astley/) > [I fight for what I believe. If you are not willing to stand up for what you believe, your beliefs are not strong enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-helms/i-fight-for-what-i-believe-if-you-are-not-willing-to-stand-up-for/) [Jesse Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-helms/) ## More by Jo Graham > [“Can the leopard change his spots?” Emrys mused. “Leopards have, but the other leopards don’t like it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-graham/can-the-leopard-change-his-spots-emrys-mused-leopards-have-but-the/) [Jo Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-graham/) > [“I want to know everything. I want to know how the clouds move and why islands fall into the sea. 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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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. 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