"So much is man the slave of his heart that he will shut his eyes to what does not please him and believe all that he hopes"

Human beings are deeply influenced by their emotions and desires to such an extent that reason often yields to the impulses of the heart. Rather than acting as wholly rational creatures, people are subject to the whims of their passions, dreams, and fears. There is an innate tendency to turn away from unpleasant realities, willfully ignoring truths that cause discomfort or contradict cherished hopes. It is not merely a matter of ignorance but an active denial, an intentional shutting of the metaphorical eyes to any fact, sign, or possibility that fails to offer reassurance or pleasure.

The heart here is not merely the seat of emotion; it is a force of longing that shapes perceptions and governs beliefs. When hope flourishes, it does so not always because evidence supports it but because the desire for a favorable outcome is so strong that the mind accepts possibility as inevitability. People believe what they wish to be true, sometimes constructing elaborate justifications or reinterpretations of the world to align with their hopes. Conversely, what troubles or threatens them is exiled to the periphery of awareness, out of sight, out of mind.

This mechanism is not necessarily conscious deceit but a protective instinct, a way for individuals to preserve their inner peace or ward off fear and despair. Yet, it has profound consequences, both positive and negative. On one hand, it enables resilience and perseverance by allowing optimism to flourish even in bleak circumstances. On the other, it may blind people to vital truths and prevent growth or necessary change. Waltari, by distilling this dynamic, underscores the dual nature of the human spirit: capable of both blinding self-deception and stubborn hope. To be human is to wrestle with the question of how far to trust the heart’s inclinations and where to find the courage to look unflinchingly at the world as it is.