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I confused things with their names: that is belief.
Jean-Paul Sartre
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Belief often stems from a misunderstanding of concepts and their true nature.

In this quote, Sartre suggests that our beliefs are sometimes based on the superficial labels or names we assign to things, rather than a deeper understanding of their essence. This implies that confusion arises when we equate names with the actual reality they represent, urging us to look beyond surface-level definitions to grasp the true nature of our beliefs and experiences.

Themes

BeliefUnderstandingPerceptionConfusionPhilosophy

In practice

Example use cases

In a philosophical debate, one might quote Sartre to illustrate how misconceptions can shape our beliefs.

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