--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As success converts treason into…" description: "\"As success converts treason into legitimacy, so belief converts fiction into fact, and \"nothing is but what is not.\" — Samuel Laman Blanchard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/samuel-laman-blanchard-25787_belief_as-success-converts-treason-into-legitim_176827.jpg" --- # As success converts treason into legitimacy, so belief… ![“As success converts treason into legitimacy, so belief converts fiction into fact, and "nothing is but what is not.” quote by Samuel Laman Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/samuel-laman-blanchard-25787_belief_as-success-converts-treason-into-legitim_176827.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/samuel-laman-blanchard-25787_belief_as-success-converts-treason-into-legitim_176827.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/samuel-laman-blanchard-25787_belief_as-success-converts-treason-into-legitim_176827.jpg) > “As success converts treason into legitimacy, so belief converts fiction into fact, and "nothing is but what is not.” [Samuel Laman Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-laman-blanchard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authority can legitimize betrayal, while belief can turn imagination into reality; reality is defined by what is not. **In simple terms:** Authority validates falsehoods; belief creates facts. Key Takeaway Question the basis of truth. Themes truth belief authority Mood critical inquisitive Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - political discourse - media narratives - personal convictions - scientific theory Key Concepts philosophy psychology logic Questions to Reflect On - How do you distinguish fact from belief? - What role does power play in shaping reality? A Different Perspective Truth can be subjective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Legitimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legitimacy/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Treason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treason/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [The purposes of the United States should not be doubted. The Security Council resolutions will be enforced - the just demands of peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-purposes-of-the-united-states-should-not-be-doubted-the-security/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Until the culture recognizes the legitimacy of growing down, each person in the culture struggles blindly to make sense of the darkness that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/until-the-culture-recognizes-the-legitimacy-of-growing-down-each/) [James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/) > [The legitimacy of coercive acts in a democracy arises from the process by which they are justified and by the degree to which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-legitimacy-of-coercive-acts-in-a-democracy-arises-from-the/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [The Declaration of Independence has been called, with some justice, the most revolutionary document in human history, in that it placed the individual person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bock/the-declaration-of-independence-has-been-called-with-some-justice-the/) Alan Bock > [Because war and preparations for war have acquired legitimacy, and because of the tremendous proliferation of arms through production and export, so that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alva-myrdal/because-war-and-preparations-for-war-have-acquired-legitimacy-and/) [Alva Myrdal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alva-myrdal/) > [There is one great advantage to being an academic economist in France: here, economists are not highly respected in the academic and intellectual world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-piketty/there-is-one-great-advantage-to-being-an-academic-economist-in-france/) [Thomas Piketty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-piketty/) > [Society gives legitimacy and society can take it away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-harman/society-gives-legitimacy-and-society-can-take-it-away/) [Willis Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-harman/) > [America does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/america-does-not-accept-the-legitimacy-of-continued-israeli/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [To question the legitimacy of the next United States president, you know, and you're worried about a tweet that says, hey, why don't you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/to-question-the-legitimacy-of-the-next-united-states-president-you/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [I'm not going to question Brock's legitimacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mir/i-m-not-going-to-question-brock-s-legitimacy/) [Frank Mir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mir/) > [Strong states and blocs of strong states are the only source of power and legitimacy capable of driving an international agenda in today's world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bremmer/strong-states-and-blocs-of-strong-states-are-the-only-source-of-power/) [Ian Bremmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bremmer/) > [Self-ruled Taiwan cannot be expected to accept such an affront to the legitimacy of its government and the self-determination of the Taiwanese people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-akin/self-ruled-taiwan-cannot-be-expected-to-accept-such-an-affront-to-the/) [Todd Akin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-akin/) > [A nation has the right to defend itself, but when it comes to the broader issue of peace and security, the legitimacy rests only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/a-nation-has-the-right-to-defend-itself-but-when-it-comes-to-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Karabakh conflict has a strong influence on the political climate both in Azerbaijan and Armenia. 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The adoption of the foundling establishes its consanguinity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-laman-blanchard/when-the-error-is-universal-it-is-supposed-to-end-the-adoption-of-the/) [Samuel Laman Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-laman-blanchard/) [Explore all 22 Samuel Laman Blanchard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-laman-blanchard/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? 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