“What we wish, we readily believe, and what we ourselves think, we imagine others think also.”
July 12, 100 BC – March 15, 44 BC
Roman
Military General, Statesman, Dictator of the Roman Republic, Author
table of contents
Quote
“What we wish, we readily believe, and what we ourselves think, we imagine others think also.”
Explanation
This quote reveals Julius Caesar’s acute understanding of human self-deception and projection. The first part—“What we wish, we readily believe”—highlights how personal desires can distort judgment, leading individuals to accept as true what aligns with their hopes, regardless of evidence. The second part—“what we ourselves think, we imagine others think also”—explains how people often project their own thoughts and intentions onto others, assuming that others share their motives or values. Together, these observations warn against the cognitive biases that cloud perception and decision-making.
In Caesar’s life, such insight would have been vital. As a military leader and politician navigating the dangerous currents of Roman power, understanding how people deceive themselves and misjudge others could be the difference between survival and downfall. His own downfall came in part because he underestimated the motives and unity of his enemies, perhaps a tragic example of the very error he describes. Caesar’s recognition of these tendencies also allowed him to manipulate public sentiment and outmaneuver rivals who believed he thought like them.
In the modern world, this quote remains strikingly relevant, especially in fields like politics, business, and media. Leaders often fall into echo chambers, assuming public opinion mirrors their own beliefs. Similarly, individuals are prone to confirmation bias and false consensus, accepting ideas that reflect their desires and assuming others share their views. Caesar’s words serve as a reminder to question our assumptions, recognize our biases, and understand that others may think and wish very differently than we do.
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