--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We play make believe, pretend to take…" description: "\"We play make believe, pretend to take ourselves and each other seriously--to love each other, hate each other--but then--it isn't true. It isn't true, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/ugo-betti-17809_believe_we-play-make-believe-pretend-to-take-our_1148756.png" --- # We play make believe, pretend to take ourselves and each… ![“We play make believe, pretend to take ourselves and each other seriously--to love each other, hate each other--but then--it isn't true. It isn't true, we don't care at all!” quote by Ugo Betti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/ugo-betti-17809_believe_we-play-make-believe-pretend-to-take-our_1148756.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/ugo-betti-17809_believe_we-play-make-believe-pretend-to-take-our_1148756.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/ugo-betti-17809_believe_we-play-make-believe-pretend-to-take-our_1148756.png) > “We play make believe, pretend to take ourselves and each other seriously--to love each other, hate each other--but then--it isn't true. It isn't true, we don't care at all!” [Ugo Betti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugo-betti/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People adopt false seriousness and emotional extremes, yet underlying indifference reveals the absurdity of such pretenses. **In simple terms:** We act seriously but truly don't care. Key Takeaway Recognize and release false seriousness. Themes authenticity absurdity relationships pretence Mood cynical humorous Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - personal interactions - social rituals - conflict resolution - self‑awareness Key Concepts Existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - Why do we cling to false seriousness? - What happens when we accept indifference? A Different Perspective Seriousness can be genuine when acknowledged. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Love each other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-each-other/) [Make believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-believe/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [Just by the nature of what we do it kind of gets you out of the regularities of life. Playing pretend for a living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-liotta/just-by-the-nature-of-what-we-do-it-kind-of-gets-you-out-of-the/) [Ray Liotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-liotta/) > [So why do we make believe? Why do we pretend that love is something that its not? Because were human, and instead of facing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-mae-lagud/so-why-do-we-make-believe-why-do-we-pretend-that-love-is-something/) [Joanna Mae Lagud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-mae-lagud/) > [As soon as you start doing that - changing things - it seems self-evident to me that you've entered the world of make-believe. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/as-soon-as-you-start-doing-that-changing-things-it-seems-self-evident/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [At a young age, acting was so inspiring and exciting, because to me it was play - make-believe, pretend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/at-a-young-age-acting-was-so-inspiring-and-exciting-because-to-me-it-2/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [I like playing make-believe. And my brothers do it with me, so its fun. Its almost better than chocolate ice cream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madylin-sweeten/i-like-playing-make-believe-and-my-brothers-do-it-with-me-so-its-fun/) Madylin Sweeten > [And from the first moment that I ever walked on stage in front of a darkened auditorium with a couple of hundred people sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stewart/and-from-the-first-moment-that-i-ever-walked-on-stage-in-front-of-a/) [Patrick Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stewart/) > [ My first day on set \[Bad Santa 2\] was with Billy \[Bob Tornton\] and it was a sex scene in a Christmas tree lot… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-hendricks/my-first-day-on-set-bad-santa-2-was-with-billy-bob-tornton-and-it-was/) [Christina Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-hendricks/) > [I was always an actress, even as a little kid, and fantasy, horror, sci-fi stories are really all about playing make believe. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-madsen/i-was-always-an-actress-even-as-a-little-kid-and-fantasy-horror-sci/) [Virginia Madsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-madsen/) > [Most of the people I've been fortunate enough to work with all share the same passion for creativity, for ingenuity, for playing make-believe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-campisi/most-of-the-people-i-ve-been-fortunate-enough-to-work-with-all-share/) [Gabriel Campisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-campisi/) > [Screenwriting and making movies is really playing make-believe like most of us did as children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-campisi/screenwriting-and-making-movies-is-really-playing-make-believe-like/) [Gabriel Campisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-campisi/) > [At a young age, acting was so inspiring and exciting, because to me it was play - make-believe, pretend. I remember one day during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/at-a-young-age-acting-was-so-inspiring-and-exciting-because-to-me-it/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [You give up on what you need to be doing because you forget that you're worth it. This is why most people aren't leading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-moran/you-give-up-on-what-you-need-to-be-doing-because-you-forget-that-you/) [Victoria Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-moran/) > [I just try to play make-believe and pretend the world is magical and awesome as much as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-macisaac/i-just-try-to-play-make-believe-and-pretend-the-world-is-magical-and/) [Martha MacIsaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-macisaac/) > [ We're really fleshing out the whole world of the show \[Difficult People\]. It's more of an ensemble now, whereas last season we were very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/we-re-really-fleshing-out-the-whole-world-of-the-show-difficult/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [To know each other is the best way to understand each other. To understand each other is the only way to love each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/to-know-each-other-is-the-best-way-to-understand-each-other-to/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) ## More by Ugo Betti > [Justice! Custodian of the world! But since the world errs, justice must be custodian of the world's errors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ugo-betti/justice-custodian-of-the-world-but-since-the-world-errs-justice-must/) [Ugo Betti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugo-betti/) > [Each of us is the only person who can give the other what each of us wants to have: Peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ugo-betti/each-of-us-is-the-only-person-who-can-give-the-other-what-each-of-us/) [Ugo Betti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugo-betti/) > [If we have anything kind to say, any tender sentiment to express, we feel a sense of shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ugo-betti/if-we-have-anything-kind-to-say-any-tender-sentiment-to-express-we/) [Ugo Betti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugo-betti/) > [Memories are like stones, time and distance erode them like acid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ugo-betti/memories-are-like-stones-time-and-distance-erode-them-like-acid/) [Ugo Betti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugo-betti/) > ['Mad' is a term we use to describe a man who is obsessed with one idea and nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ugo-betti/mad-is-a-term-we-use-to-describe-a-man-who-is-obsessed-with-one-idea/) [Ugo Betti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugo-betti/) > [At any given moment, I open my eyes and exist. And before that, during all eternity, what was there? Nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ugo-betti/at-any-given-moment-i-open-my-eyes-and-exist-and-before-that-during/) [Ugo Betti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugo-betti/) > [To believe in God is to know that all the rules will be fair, and that there will be wonderful surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ugo-betti/to-believe-in-god-is-to-know-that-all-the-rules-will-be-fair-and-that/) [Ugo Betti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugo-betti/) > [Killing time is the chief end of our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ugo-betti/killing-time-is-the-chief-end-of-our-society/) [Ugo Betti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugo-betti/) > [Thought itself needs words. It runs on them like a long wire. And if it loses the habit of words, little by little it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ugo-betti/thought-itself-needs-words-it-runs-on-them-like-a-long-wire-and-if-it/) [Ugo Betti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugo-betti/) > [The first temptation, upon meeting an old friend after many years, is always to - look the other way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ugo-betti/the-first-temptation-upon-meeting-an-old-friend-after-many-years-is/) [Ugo Betti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugo-betti/) > [Every tiny part of us cries out against the idea of dying, and hopes to live forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ugo-betti/every-tiny-part-of-us-cries-out-against-the-idea-of-dying-and-hopes/) [Ugo Betti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugo-betti/) > [I think the family is the place where the most ridiculous and least respectable things in the world go on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ugo-betti/i-think-the-family-is-the-place-where-the-most-ridiculous-and-least/) [Ugo Betti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugo-betti/) > [A vague uneasiness: the police. It's like when you suddenly understand you have to undress in front of the doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ugo-betti/a-vague-uneasiness-the-police-it-s-like-when-you-suddenly-understand/) [Ugo Betti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugo-betti/) > [Behind everything we feel, there is always a sense of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ugo-betti/behind-everything-we-feel-there-is-always-a-sense-of-fear/) [Ugo Betti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugo-betti/) > [There is no forgiveness in nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ugo-betti/there-is-no-forgiveness-in-nature/) [Ugo Betti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugo-betti/) [Explore all 36 Ugo Betti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugo-betti/) ## 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 ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We play make believe, pretend to take ourselves and each other seriously--to love each other, hate each other--but then--it isn't true. 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