I have believed the best of every man. And find that to believe

Host: The room felt quiet, the evening stretching out in front of them like an open road. Jack sat by the window, his fingers gently tracing the edge of his coffee cup, lost in thought. Jeeny, across from him, sat with a notebook in her lap, but her gaze was distant, as though her mind was somewhere else. The soft hum of the world outside barely reached the room, leaving them in a bubble of calm, yet there was something waiting, an unspoken idea that hung between them.

Host: William Butler Yeats’ words filled the silence: “I have believed the best of every man. And find that to believe is enough to make a bad man show him at his best, or even a good man swings his lantern higher.” The simplicity of the thought, the idea that belief in others could bring out the best in them, seemed both profound and inspirational. Jack, usually more skeptical about such idealistic ideas, was the first to speak.

Jack: His voice was thoughtful, almost reflective: “It’s interesting, isn’t it? Yeats is saying that belief—really believing in someone—has the power to change them, to bring out the best version of who they are. And it’s not just about being naive or blind to someone’s flaws. It’s about recognizing the potential in them and giving them the space to rise to that potential. Maybe we all need to believe more in others, even when it’s hard to see the good in them.”

Jeeny: She nodded slowly, her voice gentle, filled with understanding: “Exactly. It’s easy to see the flaws in people, to focus on their mistakes or shortcomings. But Yeats is suggesting that when we choose to believe the best in others, we’re not just elevating them—we’re elevating ourselves, too. We become the kind of people who see the good, who encourage others to be better, to do better. It’s like we become part of the process of their growth.”

Host: There was a quiet shift in the room, as if the conversation had uncovered a deeper truth about human connection. The idea that belief—not just in others, but in their potential—had the power to transform both the person who believed and the person who was believed in, was both humbling and empowering. Jack’s usual skepticism seemed to soften, replaced by a recognition that belief wasn’t just about faith in someone’s goodness—it was about creating space for that goodness to grow.

Jack: His voice softened, almost revelatory, as he continued: “Maybe that’s what’s missing in a lot of our relationships or interactions—faith in the other person. It’s easy to assume someone can’t change, can’t do better, but maybe if we choose to believe in them, they’ll rise to meet those expectations. It’s like we give them the strength to show us their best, not because they’re perfect, but because they feel the support.”

Jeeny: Her smile was gentle, but there was a quiet strength behind it: “Exactly. Belief isn’t just about seeing someone as they are; it’s about seeing them as they can be. When we believe in the best in others, we allow them to see themselves that way too. We encourage their growth, their potential. And in turn, we find that we rise to meet those same standards, both for others and for ourselves. It’s a cycle of growth that lifts everyone.”

Host: The room seemed to grow stiller, the air filled with a shared understanding that belief had a kind of power—not just to inspire people to rise, but to transform the way we see the world and each other. Yeats’ idea of believing the best in people wasn’t just about idealism—it was about creating a space for potential to be realized. Jack and Jeeny sat together in that quiet realization, understanding that sometimes, the simplest act of belief could be the catalyst for change.

Jack: His voice was almost whispered, but it carried the weight of something deeper: “So, it’s about choosing to see the best in people, even when it’s hard, and letting that belief create the space for them to show it. In doing that, we don’t just change them—we change ourselves, too. We become the kind of people who believe in others, and in doing so, we help them believe in themselves.”

Jeeny: Her smile deepened, her voice warm and reassuring: “Exactly. And when we believe in others, it brings out the best in us too. We all have the power to inspire each other, to help each other grow. It’s not about perfection—it’s about choosing to see the potential and making space for it to grow.”

Host: The evening stretched on, but the world outside seemed far less important than the quiet truth that had been uncovered between them—that belief, when given freely, had the power to elevate not just others, but ourselves. Jack and Jeeny sat in the quiet, understanding that sometimes, the most profound change happens not from criticism or expectation, but from the simple act of believing in others, of encouraging them to rise to their highest potential.