“To pretend, I actually do the thing: I have therefore only pretended to pretend”
— Jacques Derrida
Simplified Meaning:
When you start by pretending to do something, you actually end up doing it for real. Imagine you're nervous about speaking in front of people, but you pretend to be confident. As you keep pretending, you might find that you're actually becoming more confident. There's a famous story about an actress who was shy in real life but acted fearless on stage. By pretending to be brave in her roles, over time, she found that she really became braver in her day-to-day life. The idea is that sometimes pretending can lead to real change. If you act like you are capable, strong, or confident, you might genuinely become those things. It's like a trick of the mind that can help you grow and improve. So, if there's something you want to be or do, start by pretending and you might find that you’re no longer pretending at all.
