--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a writer disbelieves what he is…" description: "\"If a writer disbelieves what he is writing, then he can hardly expect his reader to believe it.\" — Jorge Luis Borges" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ef/jorge-luis-borges-275_believe_if-a-writer-disbelieves-what-he-is-writi_2918518.jpg" --- # If a writer disbelieves what he is writing, then he can… ![“If a writer disbelieves what he is writing, then he can hardly expect his reader to believe it.” quote by Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ef/jorge-luis-borges-275_believe_if-a-writer-disbelieves-what-he-is-writi_2918518.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ef/jorge-luis-borges-275_believe_if-a-writer-disbelieves-what-he-is-writi_2918518.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ef/jorge-luis-borges-275_believe_if-a-writer-disbelieves-what-he-is-writi_2918518.jpg) > “If a writer disbelieves what he is writing, then he can hardly expect his reader to believe it.” [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A writer must truly believe in their story to convince readers. **In simple terms:** Belief in writing builds reader trust. Key Takeaway Write with conviction. Themes writing authenticity trust Mood introspective encouraging Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - novel writing - blogging - public speaking Key Concepts narrative theory psychology Questions to Reflect On - Do you trust your voice? - How does belief affect storytelling? A Different Perspective Self‑doubt can still hinder impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Disbelieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disbelieves-1757582/) [Disbelieves Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disbelieves-writing-3752491/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader/) [Reader Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader-believe-943898/) [Worship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worship/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writer Disbelieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer-disbelieves-3752490/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Hardly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-hardly-1980819/) ## Related quotes > [“If a writer disbelieves what he is writing, then he can hardly expect his readers to believe it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/if-a-writer-disbelieves-what-he-is-writing-then-he-can-hardly-expect/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [It is my contention that the process of reading is part of the process of writing, the necessary completion without which writing can hardly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-is-my-contention-that-the-process-of-reading-is-part-of-the/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Everyone believes in the atrocities of the enemy and disbelieves in those of his own side, without ever bothering to examine the evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/everyone-believes-in-the-atrocities-of-the-enemy-and-disbelieves-in/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [A Unitarian very earnestly disbelieves what everyone else believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-unitarian-very-earnestly-disbelieves-what-everyone-else-believes/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [I'm never going to tell the reader what to believe; I'm going to examine these characters that believe different ways, and examine their motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/i-m-never-going-to-tell-the-reader-what-to-believe-i-m-going-to/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [The very best way I can make any reader believe in the nuts and bolts of an art form... is to know the mechanics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/the-very-best-way-i-can-make-any-reader-believe-in-the-nuts-and-bolts/) [Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/) > [“Reader, do you believe that there is such a thing as happily ever after? Or, like Despereaux, have you, too, begun to question the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/reader-do-you-believe-that-there-is-such-a-thing-as-happily-ever/) [Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/) > [I have been trying to make the reader believe that we actually are, at present, creatures whose character must be, in some respects, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-been-trying-to-make-the-reader-believe-that-we-actually-are-at/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Any writer must find it difficult to assess her own work honestly and objectively, so I can only say that I hope my books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-maddocks/any-writer-must-find-it-difficult-to-assess-her-own-work-honestly-and/) [Margaret Maddocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-maddocks/) > [If you know what you're talking about, or if you feel that you do, the reader will believe you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/if-you-know-what-you-re-talking-about-or-if-you-feel-that-you-do-the/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [“Perchance, dear reader, you will then believe that nothing is stranger and madder than actual life, and that this is all that the poet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-t-a-hoffmann-2/perchance-dear-reader-you-will-then-believe-that-nothing-is-stranger/) [E.T.A. Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-t-a-hoffmann-2/) > [“If they can worship a weird creature, which is even not existed; why I must not worship a beautiful one who is already here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/if-they-can-worship-a-weird-creature-which-is-even-not-existed-why-i/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. What we really want is an Asram. We want a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/we-do-not-want-nowadays-temples-of-worship-and-outward-rites-and/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) ## More by Jorge Luis Borges > [“No hables a menos que puedas mejorar el silencio.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/no-hables-a-menos-que-puedas-mejorar-el-silencio/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Like all writers, he measured the achievements of others by what they had accomplished, asking of them that they measure him by what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/like-all-writers-he-measured-the-achievements-of-others-by-what-they/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [How can we manage to illuminate the pathos of our lives?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/how-can-we-manage-to-illuminate-the-pathos-of-our-lives/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Loneliness does not worry me; life is difficult enough, putting up with yourself and with your own habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/loneliness-does-not-worry-me-life-is-difficult-enough-putting-up-with/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The fact is that all writers create their precursors. Their work modifies our conception of the past, just as it is bound to modify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-fact-is-that-all-writers-create-their-precursors-their-work/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I don't think we're capable of knowledge, but I like to keep an open mind. So if you ask me whether I believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-don-t-think-we-re-capable-of-knowledge-but-i-like-to-keep-an-open/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The web of time - the strands of which approach one another, bifurcate, intersect, or ignore each other through the centuries - embraces "every"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-web-of-time-the-strands-of-which-approach-one-another-bifurcate/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [“My memory, sir, is like a garbage disposal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/my-memory-sir-is-like-a-garbage-disposal/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [When I write, I do it urged by an intimate necessity. I don't have in mind an exclusive public, or a public of multitudes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/when-i-write-i-do-it-urged-by-an-intimate-necessity-i-don-t-have-in/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The mind was dreaming. The world was its dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-mind-was-dreaming-the-world-was-its-dream/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I foresee that man will resign himself each day to new abominations, and soon that only bandits and soldiers will be left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-foresee-that-man-will-resign-himself-each-day-to-new-abominations/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [“If I could live again - I will travel light, If I could live again - I'll try to work bare feet at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/if-i-could-live-again-i-will-travel-light-if-i-could-live-again-i-ll/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Every man should be capable of all ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/every-man-should-be-capable-of-all-ideas/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Writing is only a guided dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/writing-is-only-a-guided-dream/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) [Explore all 558 Jorge Luis Borges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“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/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If a writer disbelieves what he is writing, then he can hardly expect his reader to believe it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jorge Luis Borges" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/if-a-writer-disbelieves-what-he-is-writing-then-he-can-hardly-expect-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/if-a-writer-disbelieves-what-he-is-writing-then-he-can-hardly-expect-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ef/jorge-luis-borges-275_believe_if-a-writer-disbelieves-what-he-is-writi_2918518.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ef/jorge-luis-borges-275_believe_if-a-writer-disbelieves-what-he-is-writi_2918518.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ef/jorge-luis-borges-275_believe_if-a-writer-disbelieves-what-he-is-writi_2918518.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If a writer disbelieves what he is writing, then he can hardly expect his reader to believe it.” — Jorge Luis Borges", "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": "Jorge Luis Borges", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If a writer disbelieves what he...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/if-a-writer-disbelieves-what-he-is-writing-then-he-can-hardly-expect-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/if-a-writer-disbelieves-what-he-is-writing-then-he-can-hardly-expect-2/#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 } } ] } ```