---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I consider life, 'tis all a cheat…"
description: "\"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 falser than t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e87/john-dryden-491_cheating_when-i-consider-life-tis-all-a-cheat-yet_2084076.jpg"
---

#  When I consider life, 'tis all a cheat. Yet, fooled by…

![“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 falser than the former day.” quote by John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e87/john-dryden-491_cheating_when-i-consider-life-tis-all-a-cheat-yet_2084076.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e87/john-dryden-491_cheating_when-i-consider-life-tis-all-a-cheat-yet_2084076.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e87/john-dryden-491_cheating_when-i-consider-life-tis-all-a-cheat-yet_2084076.jpg)

> “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 falser than the former day.”

[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.

He reflects on life's deceit, hope's illusion, and the unreliability of tomorrow.

**In simple terms:** Life feels like a cheat; hope deceives; tomorrow is uncertain.

Key Takeaway

Stay cautious of false hopes and fleeting promises.

Themes

philosophy hope time

Mood

melancholic thoughtful

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

- financial planning
- career decisions
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

existentialism skepticism

Questions to Reflect On

- What balances hope and realism for you?
- How do you prepare for uncertain futures?

A Different Perspective

Hope can motivate despite uncertainty.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cheating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating/) [Deceit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deceit/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/)

## 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 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/)

> [When I consider life, it is all a cheat. Yet fooled with hope, people favor this deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/when-i-consider-life-it-is-all-a-cheat-yet-fooled-with-hope-people/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

> [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/)

> [&amp; 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/)

> [An honorable man or woman is one who is truthful; free from deceit; above cheating, lying, stealing, or any form of deception. An honorable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/an-honorable-man-or-woman-is-one-who-is-truthful-free-from-deceit/)

[Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/)

> [Cheating isn't always kissing, touching or flirting. if you gotta delete your text messages so your partner won't see them, you're already there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cheating-isn-t-always-kissing-touching-or-flirting-if-you-gotta/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“If fifty million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/if-fifty-million-people-say-a-foolish-thing-it-is-still-a-foolish/)

[Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/)

> [“Now you're looking for the secret, but you won't find it...because you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. You want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-j-j-nolan/now-you-re-looking-for-the-secret-but-you-won-t-find-it-because-you/)

Christopher J. J. Nolan

> [The holy grail is right here in this gem of a book. Tosha Silver’s wisdom goes down as easy as a mint milkshake and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-rankin/the-holy-grail-is-right-here-in-this-gem-of-a-book-tosha-silver-s/)

[Lissa Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-rankin/)

> [I've gradually fooled myself into becoming a real painter... I really just like to sit in my air-conditioned Rome painting studio surrounded by Medieval…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kostabi/i-ve-gradually-fooled-myself-into-becoming-a-real-painter-i-really/)

[Mark Kostabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kostabi/)

> [The only one who didn't know was George Lucas. We kept it from him, because we wanted to see what his face looked like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/the-only-one-who-didn-t-know-was-george-lucas-we-kept-it-from-him/)

[Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/)

> [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 Cheating quotes

> [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/)

[Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/)

> [Being faithful shouldn't be challenging, cheating should. Too bad its the other way around though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-faithful-shouldn-t-be-challenging-cheating-should-too-bad-its/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If you leave someone for another person, don't be surprised if that person leaves you for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-leave-someone-for-another-person-don-t-be-surprised-if-that/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The one thing I absolutely hate about social media are the people who abuse it. Whenever I see a person who constantly posts negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmin-garcia/the-one-thing-i-absolutely-hate-about-social-media-are-the-people-who/)

[Jazmin Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmin-garcia/)

> [They have no right to complain! If women were cool with knowing their man is cheating on them then they have no right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-williams/they-have-no-right-to-complain-if-women-were-cool-with-knowing-their/)

[Eric Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-williams/)

> [Sometimes it's better to shut up and leave me alone then pester me constantly because I am a human and I have feelings too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-leeigh/sometimes-it-s-better-to-shut-up-and-leave-me-alone-then-pester-me/)

[Tamika-leeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamika-leeigh/)

> [I dont play when it comes to being unfaithful. You cheat, you get no second chance &amp; 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/)

> [It's not the cheating. It's the hunger...The hunger for an alternative, and the refusal to accept a life of unhappiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/it-s-not-the-cheating-it-s-the-hunger-the-hunger-for-an-alternative/)

[Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/)

> [“To keep myself from harming or calling N and to stave off the rage and despair, I focus on my extraordinary son, drink midrange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-finnamore/to-keep-myself-from-harming-or-calling-n-and-to-stave-off-the-rage/)

[Suzanne Finnamore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-finnamore/)

> [Here is your government at work. A congressman from Colorado said he wants to draft a rule that would make it unethical to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/here-is-your-government-at-work-a-congressman-from-colorado-said-he/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Cheaters are like fruit flies. They taste each fruit from time to time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teejay-david/cheaters-are-like-fruit-flies-they-taste-each-fruit-from-time-to-time/)

[Teejay David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teejay-david/)

> [Cheating is like eating fast food. You do it, you enjoy it, and then you end up feeling like shit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/cheating-is-like-eating-fast-food-you-do-it-you-enjoy-it-and-then-you/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [One of two things when the guy you're dating isn't really ready to commit. He's an a\*\*hole and he's cheating on you; bottom line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-catherwood/one-of-two-things-when-the-guy-you-re-dating-isn-t-really-ready-to/)

Michael Catherwood

> [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/)

> [“For me, it´s sloth," I say. "Hedonistic sloth and escapism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-finnamore/for-me-it-s-sloth-i-say-hedonistic-sloth-and-escapism/)

[Suzanne Finnamore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-finnamore/)

[Browse all 1,488 Cheating quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "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 falser than the former day.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Dryden"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/when-i-consider-life-tis-all-a-cheat-yet-fooled-by-hope-men-favour/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cheating"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/when-i-consider-life-tis-all-a-cheat-yet-fooled-by-hope-men-favour/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e87/john-dryden-491_cheating_when-i-consider-life-tis-all-a-cheat-yet_2084076.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e87/john-dryden-491_cheating_when-i-consider-life-tis-all-a-cheat-yet_2084076.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e87/john-dryden-491_cheating_when-i-consider-life-tis-all-a-cheat-yet_2084076.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I consider life, 'tis all a cheat. Yet, fooled by hope, men favour the deceit; trust on, and think…” — 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, 'tis all...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/when-i-consider-life-tis-all-a-cheat-yet-fooled-by-hope-men-favour/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/when-i-consider-life-tis-all-a-cheat-yet-fooled-by-hope-men-favour/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
