“Men are inclined to believe what they wish to be true.”Tucidide · Istoria războiului peloponesiac · -400 · II, 8
People easily believe what they wish to be true, not what is.
Thucydides observes a fundamental human weakness: our desires shape what we accept as real. When news suits us, we receive it without skepticism; when it contradicts us, we reject it. For example, in a conflict, each side believes rumors that favor them, ignoring contrary evidence. It is a psychological mechanism of self-deception.
Why it matters This observation warns us to be vigilant about our own biases, especially in the age of fake news and social media.