the wish is father to the thought - Definition & Meaning

used to imply that our desires and wishes can influence the way we think and perceive things, leading us to believe what we want to believe, rather than what is objectively trueused to imply that our desires and wishes can influence the way we think and perceive things, leading us to believe what we want to believe, rather than what is objectively true

The origin of the proverb "the wish is father to the thought" can be traced back to the 16th century and is commonly attributed to William Shakespeare in his play 'The Tempest.' The phrase suggests that people often believe what they want to be true, letting their desires shape their thoughts and decisions. It implies that individuals may convince themselves of something simply because they wish it to be true, rather than accepting facts or reality. The proverb is commonly used to highlight how wishes and personal desires can influence one's judgment, often leading to biased or unrealistic thinking.The origin of the proverb "the wish is father to the thought" can be traced back to the 16th century and is commonly attributed to William Shakespeare in his play 'The Tempest.' The phrase suggests that people often believe what they want to be true, letting their desires shape their thoughts and decisions. It implies that individuals may convince themselves of something simply because they wish it to be true, rather than accepting facts or reality. The proverb is commonly used to highlight how wishes and personal desires can influence one's judgment, often leading to biased or unrealistic thinking.

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