--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: With how much ease believe we what we wish!" description: "\"With how much ease believe we what we wish!\" — John Dryden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9aa/john-dryden-491_belief_with-how-much-ease-believe-we-what-we-wi_918184.jpg" --- # With how much ease believe we what we wish! ![“With how much ease believe we what we wish!” quote by John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9aa/john-dryden-491_belief_with-how-much-ease-believe-we-what-we-wi_918184.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9aa/john-dryden-491_belief_with-how-much-ease-believe-we-what-we-wi_918184.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9aa/john-dryden-491_belief_with-how-much-ease-believe-we-what-we-wi_918184.jpg) > “With how much ease believe we what we wish!” [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 comments that belief is easily swayed by desire, highlighting wishful thinking. **In simple terms:** Desire makes belief effortless. Key Takeaway Question your wishes before believing. Themes belief desire critical thinking Mood skeptical thoughtful Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - decision making - risk assessment - personal goals - leadership Key Concepts cognitive bias wishful thinking Questions to Reflect On - What wishes influence your beliefs? - How can you test the reality of your desires? A Different Perspective Blind belief can lead to poor decisions if not examined. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [“No poet or novelist wishes he was the only one who ever lived, but most of them wish they were the only one alive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden-2/no-poet-or-novelist-wishes-he-was-the-only-one-who-ever-lived-but/) [W.H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden-2/) > [“Son, that's a pretty hard question to answer. But I do believe that any wish you make can come true if you help the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-rawls/son-that-s-a-pretty-hard-question-to-answer-but-i-do-believe-that-any/) [Wilson Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-rawls/) > [“If you wish to strive for peace of soul and pleasure, then believe; if you wish to be a devotee of truth, then inquire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/if-you-wish-to-strive-for-peace-of-soul-and-pleasure-then-believe-if/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Dragons appear to those who believe, and only then if we wish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hart/dragons-appear-to-those-who-believe-and-only-then-if-we-wish/) [Derek Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hart/) > [“If I Believe in the Wish, I must believe I can loose it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/destin-bays/if-i-believe-in-the-wish-i-must-believe-i-can-loose-it/) [Destin Bays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/destin-bays/) > [“If we can still surmount what is natural and believe what we wish to believe, in spite of the force of evidence, then for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-perry/if-we-can-still-surmount-what-is-natural-and-believe-what-we-wish-to/) [Anne Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-perry/) > [What we need is not the will to believe, but the wish to find out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/what-we-need-is-not-the-will-to-believe-but-the-wish-to-find-out/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [“If I believe in the wish, I must believe I can lose it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/destin-bays/if-i-believe-in-the-wish-i-must-believe-i-can-lose-it/) [Destin Bays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/destin-bays/) > [I wish I could believe you. I wish I could forgive you. But if I did, that would just say that you have another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-hope/i-wish-i-could-believe-you-i-wish-i-could-forgive-you-but-if-i-did/) [Amber Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-hope/) > [Men are nearly always willing to believe what they wish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-caesar/men-are-nearly-always-willing-to-believe-what-they-wish/) [Julius Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-caesar/) > [Men willingly believe what they wish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-caesar/men-willingly-believe-what-they-wish/) [Julius Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-caesar/) > [“Believe me, I wish I could give you what you want. I have thought about it so many times, but I can't just do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-james/believe-me-i-wish-i-could-give-you-what-you-want-i-have-thought-about/) [Jayson James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-james/) > [We are eager to believe that others are flawed because we are eager to believe in what we wish for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-eager-to-believe-that-others-are-flawed-because-we-are-eager/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Men gladly believe what they wish. -Libenter homines id quod volunt credunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-caesar/men-gladly-believe-what-they-wish-libenter-homines-id-quod-volunt/) [Julius Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-caesar/) > [There are people who can believe anything they wish. What lucky creatures!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/there-are-people-who-can-believe-anything-they-wish-what-lucky/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) ## 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 Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [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/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "With how much ease believe we what we wish!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Dryden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/with-how-much-ease-believe-we-what-we-wish/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/with-how-much-ease-believe-we-what-we-wish/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9aa/john-dryden-491_belief_with-how-much-ease-believe-we-what-we-wi_918184.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9aa/john-dryden-491_belief_with-how-much-ease-believe-we-what-we-wi_918184.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9aa/john-dryden-491_belief_with-how-much-ease-believe-we-what-we-wi_918184.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“With how much ease believe we what we wish!” — 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": "With how much ease believe we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/with-how-much-ease-believe-we-what-we-wish/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/with-how-much-ease-believe-we-what-we-wish/#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 } } ] } ```