“People can be influenced by many things.” Beliefs and personal meaning are really nothing special. In such a vacuous universe, they are all anyone has -- but they are not special. “It isn’t belief so much as the outward presentation of belief that influences. It may help if the two are aligned, but it isn’t necessary.”

He flashes a cheerful smile. While not actually interested in politeness, he is incapable of breaking the facade. “There can be such distance between a person’s inner truth and outward appearance.”

If something is forgotten, it disappears. They can agree about that, if nothing else. “What if the belief is based on a lie? Does it matter how many times they affirm it, if they are still going to change their mind as soon as they learn the truth?”