---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: See things as you would have them be…"
description: "\"See things as you would have them be, instead of as they are.\" — Robert Collier"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/robert-collier-7407_instead_see-things-as-you-would-have-them-be-ins_3160503.png"
---

#  See things as you would have them be, instead of as they…

![“See things as you would have them be, instead of as they are.” quote by Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/robert-collier-7407_instead_see-things-as-you-would-have-them-be-ins_3160503.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/robert-collier-7407_instead_see-things-as-you-would-have-them-be-ins_3160503.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/robert-collier-7407_instead_see-things-as-you-would-have-them-be-ins_3160503.png)

> “See things as you would have them be, instead of as they are.”

[Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Envision desired outcomes rather than current reality to guide actions toward them.

**In simple terms:** Imagine how you want things to be.

Key Takeaway

Focus on the desired state.

Themes

vision positivity goal setting

Mood

optimistic inspirational

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal development
- leadership
- creative problem solving

Key Concepts

cognitive reframing future orientation

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you balance ideal vision with realistic steps?
- What obstacles might arise when reality differs?

A Different Perspective

Vision alone may ignore practical constraints.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instead/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Things Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-instead-1576678/)

## Related quotes

> [LSD...reinforc ed my sense of what was important-creat ing great things instead of making money, putting things back into the stream of history and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/lsd-reinforc-ed-my-sense-of-what-was-important-creat-ing-great-things/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [Isnt there a way to save up our luck for big things,instead of just for small stuff..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachithra/isnt-there-a-way-to-save-up-our-luck-for-big-things-instead-of-just/)

[Sachithra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachithra/)

> [“There’s never any cumulative value to all the things we do instead of the things we know are truly important. What”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/there-s-never-any-cumulative-value-to-all-the-things-we-do-instead-of/)

[Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/)

> [We should always be looking for the unity in things instead of the differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genesis-p-orridge/we-should-always-be-looking-for-the-unity-in-things-instead-of-the/)

[Genesis P-Orridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genesis-p-orridge/)

> [Focus on doing the right things instead of a bunch of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krieger/focus-on-doing-the-right-things-instead-of-a-bunch-of-things/)

[Mike Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krieger/)

> [Do the right things instead of trying to do everything right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/do-the-right-things-instead-of-trying-to-do-everything-right/)

[Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/)

> [When the child goes out, it is the world itself that offers itself to him. Let us take the child out to show him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/when-the-child-goes-out-it-is-the-world-itself-that-offers-itself-to/)

[Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/)

> [“Don't push people to do things, instead tell them what would happen if they don't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mduduzi-risimati-mbiza/don-t-push-people-to-do-things-instead-tell-them-what-would-happen-if/)

[Mduduzi Risimati Mbiza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mduduzi-risimati-mbiza/)

> [“He doesn’t have the words, so he does practical things instead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-aguirre/he-doesn-t-have-the-words-so-he-does-practical-things-instead/)

[Ann Aguirre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-aguirre/)

> [Coffee is one of the special things I have, instead of a social life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-achenbach/coffee-is-one-of-the-special-things-i-have-instead-of-a-social-life/)

[Joel Achenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-achenbach/)

> [ There's also these moments when you're like, oh, I really want to do different things. Not instead of this show \[The Big Bang Theory\].… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/there-s-also-these-moments-when-you-re-like-oh-i-really-want-to-do/)

[Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/)

> [“The way I see it, if everybody ran from bad things instead of trying to stop them, bad things would be all there is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/the-way-i-see-it-if-everybody-ran-from-bad-things-instead-of-trying/)

[Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/)

> [I want everybody to worship the God of love instead of worshipping the God of hate and torture. But in the meantime, we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mosab-hassan-yousef/i-want-everybody-to-worship-the-god-of-love-instead-of-worshipping/)

[Mosab Hassan Yousef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mosab-hassan-yousef/)

> [“Refuse to put others either above you or below you, but instead see them as you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-holyoak/refuse-to-put-others-either-above-you-or-below-you-but-instead-see/)

[Pauline Holyoak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-holyoak/)

> [Do not presume to choose your own way of serving instead of the one I have made for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/do-not-presume-to-choose-your-own-way-of-serving-instead-of-the-one-i/)

[St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/)

## More by Robert Collier

> [All of us have bad luck and good luck. The man who persists through the bad luck - who keeps right on going -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/all-of-us-have-bad-luck-and-good-luck-the-man-who-persists-through/)

[Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/)

> [It is only when you despair of all ordinary means, it is only when you convince it that it must help you or you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/it-is-only-when-you-despair-of-all-ordinary-means-it-is-only-when-you/)

[Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/)

> [Your belief that you can do the thing gives your thought forces their power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/your-belief-that-you-can-do-the-thing-gives-your-thought-forces-their/)

[Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/)

> [It is your work to clear away the mass of encumbering material of thoughts, so that you may bring into plain view the precious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/it-is-your-work-to-clear-away-the-mass-of-encumbering-material-of/)

[Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/)

> [Supply always comes on the heels of demand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/supply-always-comes-on-the-heels-of-demand/)

[Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/)

> [Make every thought, every fact, that comes into your mind pay you a profit. Make it work and produce for you. Think of things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/make-every-thought-every-fact-that-comes-into-your-mind-pay-you-a/)

[Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/)

> [See the things you want as already yours. Think of them as yours, as belonging to you, as already in your possession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/see-the-things-you-want-as-already-yours-think-of-them-as-yours-as/)

[Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/)

> [Your chances of success in any undertaking can always be measured by your belief in yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/your-chances-of-success-in-any-undertaking-can-always-be-measured-by/)

[Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/)

> [Mind is all that counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/mind-is-all-that-counts/)

[Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/)

> [People blame their environment. There is only one person to blame - and only one - themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/people-blame-their-environment-there-is-only-one-person-to-blame-and/)

[Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/)

> [All riches have their origin in mind. Wealth is in ideas - not money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/all-riches-have-their-origin-in-mind-wealth-is-in-ideas-not-money/)

[Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/)

> [The great thing is the start - to see an opportunity for service, and to start doing it, even though in the beginning you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/the-great-thing-is-the-start-to-see-an-opportunity-for-service-and-to/)

[Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/)

> [Everything in God's store is on the bottom shelf...you have to get on your knees to get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/everything-in-god-s-store-is-on-the-bottom-shelf-you-have-to-get-on/)

[Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/)

> [Decide the effect you want to produce in your reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/decide-the-effect-you-want-to-produce-in-your-reader/)

[Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/)

> [Make your mold. The best flux in the world will not make a usable shape unless you have a mold to pour it in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/make-your-mold-the-best-flux-in-the-world-will-not-make-a-usable/)

[Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/)

[Explore all 91 Robert Collier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/)

## More Instead quotes

> [Do not presume to choose your own way of serving instead of the one I have made for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/do-not-presume-to-choose-your-own-way-of-serving-instead-of-the-one-i/)

[St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/)

> [“Refuse to put others either above you or below you, but instead see them as you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-holyoak/refuse-to-put-others-either-above-you-or-below-you-but-instead-see/)

[Pauline Holyoak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-holyoak/)

> [I want everybody to worship the God of love instead of worshipping the God of hate and torture. But in the meantime, we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mosab-hassan-yousef/i-want-everybody-to-worship-the-god-of-love-instead-of-worshipping/)

[Mosab Hassan Yousef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mosab-hassan-yousef/)

> [I didnt write Snow White for any class, but I got bitten by the screenwriting bug and wrote a couple of scripts in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-daugherty/i-didnt-write-snow-white-for-any-class-but-i-got-bitten-by-the/)

[Evan Daugherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-daugherty/)

> [Instead of explaining the sober facts of mechanics and electricity, I want to say a few words about the debt which we owe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-bloch/instead-of-explaining-the-sober-facts-of-mechanics-and-electricity-i/)

[Felix Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-bloch/)

> [There was a time when idealistic folksingers such as myself believed that Reality TV was a programming vogue that would peak and recede, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/there-was-a-time-when-idealistic-folksingers-such-as-myself-believed/)

[James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/)

> [You can have information and ease of use and have artistic integrity at the same time. The art of being a good Web designer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-davidson/you-can-have-information-and-ease-of-use-and-have-artistic-integrity/)

[Mike Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-davidson/)

> [I think most amateurs dread playing a 180-plus-yard par 3 even more than a hard par 4. Part of it is psychological: You think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/i-think-most-amateurs-dread-playing-a-180-plus-yard-par-3-even-more/)

[Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/)

> [It's time Africa started listening to our young people instead of always telling them what to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/it-s-time-africa-started-listening-to-our-young-people-instead-of/)

[Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/)

> [I like Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, as it's great for soothing dry skin and adding shine. I use it instead of balm, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-madekwe/i-like-elizabeth-arden-eight-hour-cream-as-it-s-great-for-soothing/)

[Ashley Madekwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-madekwe/)

> [My Calvinism persuades me that we are open to God, in the sense that we are not delimited, not organisms with fixed attributes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/my-calvinism-persuades-me-that-we-are-open-to-god-in-the-sense-that/)

[Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/)

> [My mother sent me to speech classes, but the other kids still teased me. I was shy. I stooped. Instead of talking, I kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-domingo/my-mother-sent-me-to-speech-classes-but-the-other-kids-still-teased/)

[Colman Domingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-domingo/)

> [I am capable of directing, and I am good at that. In order to have longevity as actors, you have to keep changing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-nelson/i-am-capable-of-directing-and-i-am-good-at-that-in-order-to-have/)

[Kirsten Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-nelson/)

> [“Instead of revenge, transcend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-klempner/instead-of-revenge-transcend/)

[Mark Klempner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-klempner/)

> [Instead of going into politics, I decided to go into comedy, which is the second most daunting career path for a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/instead-of-going-into-politics-i-decided-to-go-into-comedy-which-is/)

[Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/)

[Browse all 963 Instead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instead/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "See things as you would have them be, instead of as they are.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robert Collier"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/see-things-as-you-would-have-them-be-instead-of-as-they-are/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Instead"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/see-things-as-you-would-have-them-be-instead-of-as-they-are/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/robert-collier-7407_instead_see-things-as-you-would-have-them-be-ins_3160503.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/robert-collier-7407_instead_see-things-as-you-would-have-them-be-ins_3160503.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/robert-collier-7407_instead_see-things-as-you-would-have-them-be-ins_3160503.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“See things as you would have them be, instead of as they are.” — Robert Collier",
                "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": "Robert Collier",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "See things as you would have...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/see-things-as-you-would-have-them-be-instead-of-as-they-are/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/see-things-as-you-would-have-them-be-instead-of-as-they-are/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
