--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I consider life, it is all a cheat…" description: "\"When I consider life, it is all a cheat. Yet fooled with hope, people favor this deceit.\" — John Dryden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/john-dryden-491_cheat_when-i-consider-life-it-is-all-a-cheat-y_755272.jpg" --- # When I consider life, it is all a cheat. Yet fooled with… ![“When I consider life, it is all a cheat. Yet fooled with hope, people favor this deceit.” quote by John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/john-dryden-491_cheat_when-i-consider-life-it-is-all-a-cheat-y_755272.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/john-dryden-491_cheat_when-i-consider-life-it-is-all-a-cheat-y_755272.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/john-dryden-491_cheat_when-i-consider-life-it-is-all-a-cheat-y_755272.jpg) > “When I consider life, it is all a cheat. Yet fooled with hope, people favor this deceit.” [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life feels deceptive, yet people cling to hope despite its false promises. **In simple terms:** Life seems a lie, but hope persists. Key Takeaway Recognize hope's role amid deception. Themes hope deception human nature Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal reflection - philosophical discussions - motivational speaking Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - Do you rely on hope to mask harsh truths? - How does hope influence your perception of reality? A Different Perspective Hope can blind to reality and perpetuate false expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cheat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheat/) [Cheat Fooled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheat-fooled-5867071/) [Deceit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deceit/) [Fooled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fooled/) [Fooled Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fooled-hope-4086269/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Cheat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-cheat-3680691/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [When I consider life, 'tis all a cheat; Yet, fooled with hope, men favour the deceit; Trust on, and think tomorrow will repay. Tomorrow's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/when-i-consider-life-tis-all-a-cheat-yet-fooled-with-hope-men-favour/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [When I consider life, 'tis all a cheat. Yet, fooled by hope, men favour the deceit; trust on, and think to-morrow will repay: to-morrow's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/when-i-consider-life-tis-all-a-cheat-yet-fooled-by-hope-men-favour/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [“When I consider Life, 'tis all a cheat; Yet, fooled with hope, men favour the deceit; Trust on, and think to-morrow will repay: To-morrow's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/when-i-consider-life-tis-all-a-cheat-yet-fooled-with-hope-men-favour-2/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [HAPPY life cheat the WIFE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ejazz/happy-life-cheat-the-wife/) [EjAzz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ejazz/) > [When I consider life, 't is all a cheat. Yet fool'd with hope, men favour the deceit; Trust on, and think to-morrow will repay.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/when-i-consider-life-t-is-all-a-cheat-yet-fool-d-with-hope-men-favour/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [It is better to believe an obvious lie, than to swallow a deceitful truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-e-adonis/it-is-better-to-believe-an-obvious-lie-than-to-swallow-a-deceitful/) [Dennis E Adonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-e-adonis/) > [Some people cheat their way through life. They cheat on tests in school. Cheat on girlfriends/boyfriends then graduate to cheating on wives/husbands. They cheat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-nathaniel-butler/some-people-cheat-their-way-through-life-they-cheat-on-tests-in/) [Eugene Nathaniel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-nathaniel-butler/) > [I'm trying beat life because I can't cheat death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z-2/i-m-trying-beat-life-because-i-can-t-cheat-death/) [Jay Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z-2/) > [For happily married life, You must cheat on your wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/for-happily-married-life-you-must-cheat-on-your-wife/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“I might be the one I would never hurt you in my life nor would I cheat on you I will protect you with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-roberts/i-might-be-the-one-i-would-never-hurt-you-in-my-life-nor-would-i/) [Allie Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-roberts/) > [The recounting of a life is a cheat...even our own stories are obscenely distorted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-shields/the-recounting-of-a-life-is-a-cheat-even-our-own-stories-are/) [Carol Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-shields/) > [May you never steal, lie, or cheat, but if you must steal, then steal away my sorrows, and if you must lie, lie with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/may-you-never-steal-lie-or-cheat-but-if-you-must-steal-then-steal/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [& I was fooled by his deceitful eyes, They were as blue as the ocean, And just like the ocean, They were ever so cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-fooled-by-his-deceitful-eyes-they-were-as-blue-as-the-ocean-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I suggest that if you know history, then you might not be so easily fooled by the government when it tells you you must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/i-suggest-that-if-you-know-history-then-you-might-not-be-so-easily/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [I feel as though I've fooled the world into thinking I'm an adult and now they're letting me procreate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-feel-as-though-i-ve-fooled-the-world-into-thinking-i-m-an-adult-and/) [George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/) ## More by John Dryden > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Trust on and think To-morrow will repay; To-morrow's falser than the former day; Lies worse; and while it says, we shall be blest With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/trust-on-and-think-to-morrow-will-repay-to-morrow-s-falser-than-the/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/to-take-up-half-on-trust-and-half-to-try-name-it-not-faith-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Among our crimes oblivion may be set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/among-our-crimes-oblivion-may-be-set/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [And after hearing what our Church can say, If still our reason runs another way, That private reason 'tis more just to curb, Than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/and-after-hearing-what-our-church-can-say-if-still-our-reason-runs/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Happy, happy, happy pair! None but the brave deserves the fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/happy-happy-happy-pair-none-but-the-brave-deserves-the-fair/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [A coward is the kindest animal; 'Tis the most forgiving creature in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/a-coward-is-the-kindest-animal-tis-the-most-forgiving-creature-in-a/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [God never made his work for man to mend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/god-never-made-his-work-for-man-to-mend/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Reason to rule, mercy to forgive: The first is law, the last prerogative. Life is an adventure in forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/reason-to-rule-mercy-to-forgive-the-first-is-law-the-last-prerogative/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Stiff opinion, always in the wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/stiff-opinion-always-in-the-wrong/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [He with a graceful pride, While his rider every hand survey'd, Sprung loose, and flew into an escapade; Not moving forward, yet with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/he-with-a-graceful-pride-while-his-rider-every-hand-survey-d-sprung/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Men's virtues I have commended as freely as I have taxed their crimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/men-s-virtues-i-have-commended-as-freely-as-i-have-taxed-their-crimes/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Virtue without success is a fair picture shown by an ill light; but lucky men are favorites of heaven; all own the chief, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/virtue-without-success-is-a-fair-picture-shown-by-an-ill-light-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Zeal, the blind conductor of the will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/zeal-the-blind-conductor-of-the-will/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [“Night came, but unattended with repose. Alone she came, no sleep their eyes to close. Alone and black she came; no friendly stars arose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/night-came-but-unattended-with-repose-alone-she-came-no-sleep-their/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) [Explore all 520 John Dryden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## More Cheat quotes > [You can't cheat comedy. You know, it either is going to be there on the day you capture or it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/you-can-t-cheat-comedy-you-know-it-either-is-going-to-be-there-on-the/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [I'm not a cheat. I'm not a diver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-m-not-a-cheat-i-m-not-a-diver/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [Even with cheat codes, you can't get on my level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-with-cheat-codes-you-can-t-get-on-my-level/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As they say in New York, Get over it and, if you can't get over it, Get over talking about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/as-they-say-in-new-york-get-over-it-and-if-you-can-t-get-over-it-get/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [I hated myself totally white. So now I cheat. It's my white hair, and I put color there. My grandson says I'm punk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-hated-myself-totally-white-so-now-i-cheat-it-s-my-white-hair-and-i/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [“Some people will lie, cheat, steal and back-stab to to get ahead...and to think, all they have to do is READ!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fortune/some-people-will-lie-cheat-steal-and-back-stab-to-to-get-ahead-and-to/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fortune/) > [“If love was a game, a lot of people would cheat to win, but little would play it the right way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-gabryelle-dos-santos/if-love-was-a-game-a-lot-of-people-would-cheat-to-win-but-little/) [Amanda gabryelle dos santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-gabryelle-dos-santos/) > [“Rock-Paper-Scissors for it.” “But you always cheat,” Blake whined. “And then you just punch me and growl that ‘rock beats face’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-adams/rock-paper-scissors-for-it-but-you-always-cheat-blake-whined-and-then/) [Kyle Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-adams/) > [“The human race, to which so many of my readers belong, has been playing at children's games from the beginning, and will probably do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/the-human-race-to-which-so-many-of-my-readers-belong-has-been-playing/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [I dont play when it comes to being unfaithful. You cheat, you get no second chance & you lost the best thing that ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-dont-play-when-it-comes-to-being-unfaithful-you-cheat-you-get-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Then they're like addicts; they can't help themselves... They will steal, cheat, embezzle and commit other crimes just to get money to gamble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-warren-kindt/then-they-re-like-addicts-they-can-t-help-themselves-they-will-steal/) [John Warren Kindt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-warren-kindt/) > [There can never be such a thing as a free market, because it is human nature to cheat, monopolize, and buy off others so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/there-can-never-be-such-a-thing-as-a-free-market-because-it-is-human/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [If you can't count, they can cheat you. If you can't read, they can beat you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/if-you-can-t-count-they-can-cheat-you-if-you-can-t-read-they-can-beat/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [People still cheat on their wives, that hasn't fallen out of fashion. We all speak of it badly, but it has not fallen out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/people-still-cheat-on-their-wives-that-hasn-t-fallen-out-of-fashion/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) [Browse all 1,132 Cheat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheat/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I consider life, it is all a cheat. Yet fooled with hope, people favor this deceit.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Dryden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/when-i-consider-life-it-is-all-a-cheat-yet-fooled-with-hope-people/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cheat" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/when-i-consider-life-it-is-all-a-cheat-yet-fooled-with-hope-people/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/john-dryden-491_cheat_when-i-consider-life-it-is-all-a-cheat-y_755272.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/john-dryden-491_cheat_when-i-consider-life-it-is-all-a-cheat-y_755272.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/john-dryden-491_cheat_when-i-consider-life-it-is-all-a-cheat-y_755272.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I consider life, it is all a cheat. Yet fooled with hope, people favor this deceit.” — John Dryden", "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": "John Dryden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I consider life, it is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/when-i-consider-life-it-is-all-a-cheat-yet-fooled-with-hope-people/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/when-i-consider-life-it-is-all-a-cheat-yet-fooled-with-hope-people/#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 } } ] } ```