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We believe whatever we want to believe.

Demosthenes

Do you remember that in classical times when Cicero had finished speaking, the people said, “How well he spoke” but when Demosthenes had finished speaking, they said, “Let us march.
DEMOSTHENES

Ourselves People Talk Time
Nothing is so easy as to deceive one’s self; for what we wish, that we readily believe; but such expectations are often inconsistent with the real state of things.
DEMOSTHENES

Believe Consistency Easy Expectation State
Success has a great tendency to conceal and throw a veil over the evil deeds of men.
DEMOSTHENES

Action Greatness Man Success Tendency
Nothing is so easy as to deceive oneself; for what we wish, we readily believe.
DEMOSTHENES

Believe Deceive Easy One Liner
It is the natural disposition of all men to listen with pleasure to abuse and slander of their neighbour, and to hear with impatience those who utter praises of themselves.
DEMOSTHENES

Abuse Impatience Listening Man Natural Pleasure Praise
He who confers a favor should at once forget it, if he is not to show a sordid ungenerous spirit. To remind a man of a kindness conferred and to talk of it, is little different from reproach.
DEMOSTHENES

Different Favor Forget Himself Reminder Talk
What a man wishes, he will believe.
DEMOSTHENES

Believe Himself Man
It is impossible for men engaged in low and groveling pursuits to have noble and generous sentiments. A man’s thought must always follow his employment.
DEMOSTHENES

Employment Engagement Follow Impossible Man Thinking
Whatever shall be to the advantage of all, may that prevail!
DEMOSTHENES

Advantage Existence Prevail
The sower of the seed is assuredly the author of the whole harvest of mischief.
DEMOSTHENES

Author Harvest Mischief Sow Story
All speech is vain and empty unless it be accompanied by action.
DEMOSTHENES

Accompany Action Empty Speech
Great and unexpected successes are often the cause of foolish rushing into acts of extravagance.
DEMOSTHENES

Act Fools Greatness Rush Success
The man who flies shall fight again.
DEMOSTHENES

Fight File Man
As a vessel is known by the sound, whether it be cracked or not; so men are proved, by their speeches, whether they be wise or foolish.
DEMOSTHENES

Crack Fools Known Sound Wisdom
We need money, for sure, Athenians, and without money nothing can be done that ought to be done.
DEMOSTHENES

Existence Money Need
There is a great deal of wishful thinking in such cases it is the easiest thing of all to deceive ones self.
DEMOSTHENES

Deal Greatness Oneself Thinking

We believe whatever we want to believe.

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We believe whatever we want to believe.

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