Perception was easily accomplished, required little effort, and it never had to stand the test of reality.

no army has ever marched into battle thinking that the Creator had sided with their enemy.

Wizards First Rule: People are Stupid

Many people believe everything others say, even though what they see with their own eyes, should be enough to tell them otherwise.

I hate telling that story to people who've been struggling for years.

...you'll find that being a friend is to like a person for who they are, even the parts you don't understand. You don't have to understand, or do the same, or live their lives for them. If you truly care for them, then you want them to be who they are; that was why you liked them in the first place.

Sometimes, making the wrong choice is better than making no choice. You have the courage to go forward, that is rare. A person who stands at the fork, unable to pick, will never get anywhere.