--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So how can we determine what’s real and…" description: "\"“So how can we determine what’s real and what’s not? We can’t. We can just pick and choose what we want to believe and rationalize it as best we can. R..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/richard-b-spence-62125_conspiracy-theories_so-how-can-we-determine-what-s-real-and_2004014.jpg" --- # So how can we determine what’s real and what’s not? We… ![“So how can we determine what’s real and what’s not? We can’t. We can just pick and choose what we want to believe and rationalize it as best we can. Reality, after all, is basically a movie projected inside our heads. It’s based on the colors our senses permit us to see, the sounds they permit us…” quote by Richard B. Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/richard-b-spence-62125_conspiracy-theories_so-how-can-we-determine-what-s-real-and_2004014.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/richard-b-spence-62125_conspiracy-theories_so-how-can-we-determine-what-s-real-and_2004014.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/richard-b-spence-62125_conspiracy-theories_so-how-can-we-determine-what-s-real-and_2004014.jpg) > ““So how can we determine what’s real and what’s not? We can’t. We can just pick and choose what we want to believe and rationalize it as best we can. Reality, after all, is basically a movie projected inside our heads. It’s based on the colors our senses permit us to see, the sounds they permit us to hear and whatever else our brains let slip through the gates. But outside our limited senses, surrounding us, there is, unquestionably, a much greater reality, a universe we live in but cannot see. Well, most of us, anyway. Out there, in the dark, All Things Are Possible.” ― Richard B. Spence, The Orphan Conspiracies: 29 Conspiracy Theories from The Orphan Trilogy”” [Richard B. Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-spence/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our senses limit perception; reality is a mental construct, while a larger, unseen universe exists beyond. **In simple terms:** We see only what our senses allow; a greater reality lies beyond. Key Takeaway Recognize perception limits and stay curious. Themes perception reality unknown skepticism Mood curious open‑minded Type philosophical speculative inspirational When to use this quote - scientific research - spiritual contemplation - creative storytelling - critical thinking Key Concepts philosophy cognitive science cosmology Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate belief from evidence? - What does “all things are possible” mean to you? A Different Perspective Our mental models can be misleading. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conspiracies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conspiracies/) [Conspiracy theories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conspiracy-theories/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) ## Related quotes > [“So how can we determine what’s real and what’s not? We can’t. We can just pick and choose what we want to believe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-spence/so-how-can-we-determine-what-s-real-and-what-s-not-we-can-t-we-can/) [Richard B. Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-spence/) > [“Almost as an article of faith, some individuals believe that conspiracies are either kooky fantasies or unimportant aberrations. To be sure, wacko conspiracy theories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/almost-as-an-article-of-faith-some-individuals-believe-that/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [The reason it is difficult is that we have been conditioned to laugh at conspiracy theories, and few people will risk public ridicule by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-edward-griffin/the-reason-it-is-difficult-is-that-we-have-been-conditioned-to-laugh/) [G. Edward Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-edward-griffin/) > [“it was the sudden, shocking exposure of actual conspiracies starting in the 1970s that made Americans overcorrect, to assume that anything bad is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-andersen/it-was-the-sudden-shocking-exposure-of-actual-conspiracies-starting/) [Kurt Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-andersen/) > [“We are always in a constant state of conspiracies, at least thats what they keep telling us...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-brashear/we-are-always-in-a-constant-state-of-conspiracies-at-least-thats-what/) Faith Brashear > [“Facts count. Conspiracy theories, usually the refuge of the bitter or disempowered, range from factually challenged to wildly hallucinogenic. Conspiracy theories are not harmless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-lee-lerner/facts-count-conspiracy-theories-usually-the-refuge-of-the-bitter-or/) [K. Lee Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-lee-lerner/) > [“Culture, religion, and education, are conspiracies to standardize worldviews.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/culture-religion-and-education-are-conspiracies-to-standardize/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“But no one who studies autocratic propaganda believes that fact-checking or even swift reactions are sufficient. By the time the correction is made, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/but-no-one-who-studies-autocratic-propaganda-believes-that-fact/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [People's perceptions of me have nothing to do with reality. I'm basically just your average dork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-alexakis/people-s-perceptions-of-me-have-nothing-to-do-with-reality-i-m/) [Art Alexakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-alexakis/) > [Let's say that, in reality, I'm basically very shy when it comes to men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-summer/let-s-say-that-in-reality-i-m-basically-very-shy-when-it-comes-to-men/) [Donna Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-summer/) > [Change is the one unavoidable, irresistible, ongoing reality of the universe. To us, that makes it the most powerful reality, and just another word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/change-is-the-one-unavoidable-irresistible-ongoing-reality-of-the/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [“You believe that you live in the universe when in reality the universe lives in you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-chandler/you-believe-that-you-live-in-the-universe-when-in-reality-the/) [Steve Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-chandler/) > [The idea of a divine creator belittles the elegant reality of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-idea-of-a-divine-creator-belittles-the-elegant-reality-of-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [In reality the universe has no geometry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/in-reality-the-universe-has-no-geometry/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) > [“Maybe the most dangerous thing about the “Illuminati” isn’t that such a master cabal has ever existed, but that some people believe it should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-spence/maybe-the-most-dangerous-thing-about-the-illuminati-isn-t-that-such-a/) [Richard B. Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-spence/) ## More by Richard B. Spence > [“However intrinsically loony an idea may be, when people believe it, and act on that belief, it attains a power that can shape reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-spence/however-intrinsically-loony-an-idea-may-be-when-people-believe-it-and/) [Richard B. Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-spence/) > [“So how can we determine what’s real and what’s not? We can’t. We can just pick and choose what we want to believe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-spence/so-how-can-we-determine-what-s-real-and-what-s-not-we-can-t-we-can/) [Richard B. Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-spence/) > [“Maybe the most dangerous thing about the “Illuminati” isn’t that such a master cabal has ever existed, but that some people believe it should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-spence/maybe-the-most-dangerous-thing-about-the-illuminati-isn-t-that-such-a/) [Richard B. Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-spence/) > [“A key theme is that human history, behavior and reality are governed not by what we know but by what we believe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-spence/a-key-theme-is-that-human-history-behavior-and-reality-are-governed/) [Richard B. Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-spence/) [Explore all 5 Richard B. Spence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-spence/) ## More Conspiracies quotes > [“Conspiracies are fun and entertaining. 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Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [In fact, I point out that all the conspiracies in history - especially during the last 5000 years - are actually different aspects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eustace-mullins/in-fact-i-point-out-that-all-the-conspiracies-in-history-especially/) [Eustace Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eustace-mullins/) > [If we are on the outside, we assume a conspiracy is the perfect working of a scheme. Silent nameless men with unadorned hearts. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/if-we-are-on-the-outside-we-assume-a-conspiracy-is-the-perfect/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [“Holy conspiracies, Batman!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-nicholas/holy-conspiracies-batman/) [Annie Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-nicholas/) > [“2 Hours for this conclusion is too much and it's ne big fucking lost... ... 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Mum could never quite get the hang of conspiracies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mars-jones/it-s-so-far-up-your-street-it-s-got-its-tongue-through-your-letter/) Adam Mars-Jones [Browse all 74 Conspiracies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conspiracies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“So how can we determine what’s real and what’s not? We can’t. We can just pick and choose what we want to believe and rationalize it as best we can. Reality, after all, is basically a movie projected inside our heads. It’s based on the colors our senses permit us to see, the sounds they permit us to hear and whatever else our brains let slip through the gates. But outside our limited senses, surrounding us, there is, unquestionably, a much greater reality, a universe we live in but cannot see. Well, most of us, anyway. Out there, in the dark, All Things Are Possible.” ― Richard B. 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