History Main / IBelieveThatYouBelieveIt

** In ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'', Shepard follows a trail of clues to work out [[BigBad Saren's]] plan, only knowing at first that he's looking for something called "the Conduit" and that he intends to use it to bring back the "Reapers". Once you gather all the clues you need, Shepard learns that the Reapers are a race of [[MechanicalAbomination sentient warships]] that commit genocide on a galactic scale every few thousand years and that the Conduit is located on a remote planet called Ilos. When you presents your findings to the Citadel Council, however, they refuse to send a fleet to Ilos because the Mass Relay needed to reach it lies within the hostile [[WretchedHive Terminus Systems]], and sending their ships there could be seen by the criminals inhabiting the sector as an act of war. Instead, they choose to believe that, while Saren ''is'' plotting to attack the Citadel, he merely fabricated the Reapers as an intimidation tactic and that the Conduit is meant to distract Shepard so that Saren can keep his real plan hidden.

'''Clippy:''' Yes. [[ThatsAnOrder He ordered me to.]]\\

-->'''Clippy:''' I still believe that Mr Kornada believes he could have handled things.

** In ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'', Shepard follows a trail of clues to work out [[BigBad Saren's]] plan, only knowing at first that he's looking for something called "the Conduit" and that he intends to use it to bring back the "Reapers". Once you gather all the clues you need, Shepard learns that the Reapers are a race of [[MechanicalAbomination sentient warships]] that commit genocide on a galactic scale every few thousand years and that the Conduit is located on a remote planet called Ilos. When you presents your findings to the Citadel Council, however, they refuse to send a fleet to Ilos because the Mass Relay needed to reach it lies within the hostile [[WretchedHive Terminus Systems]], and sending their ships there could be seen by the criminals inhabiting the sector as an act of war. Instead, they choose to believe that, while Saren ''is'' plotting to attack the Citadel, he merely fabricated the Reapers as an intimidation tactic to distract Shepard and keep his real plan hidden.

* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', if you try to convince the Council about the giant killer robots from deep space, they say they believe that you believe this but they still think Sovereign was just a geth ship.
-->"[[MemeticMutation Ah, yes.]] ''[[AirQuotes Reapers.]]''"

[[folder:Film]]
* ''Film/SomethingEvil''
-->'''Marjorie Worden:''' Can you believe that I believe that the devil's in my house?
-->'''Harry Lincoln:''' Yes. If you believe there's a devil, you believe the devil's in your house; then for you it's true.
* In ''Film/{{Ghostbusters 1984}}'', Dana is hooked up to one of the group's special machines while she gives her account of a supernatural experience. When she's finished, Egon reports, "She's telling the truth, or at least she thinks she is." They then clarify that they do this to weed out people who are lying in order to get attention.
* After John Doe's MotiveRant in ''Film/{{Se7en}}'', Somerset says "I don't doubt that ''you'' believe that, John."

* In ''Film/TellNoOne'', this is Helene's attitude when Alexandre tells her he thinks [[spoiler:Margot might be alive]]...at first. Later, she comes to believe him.

* ''The Death of Grass'' by Creator/JohnChristopher. Roger tells Pirrie about a defensible farm in a valley.
-->"And now?" John pressed him. "Do you believe us?"\\
Pirrie sighed. "I believe that you believe it."
* Though the Stock Phrase isn't used in so many words, Wataru in ''Literature/BraveStory'' characterizes his uncle's reaction to Wataru telling him he met a wizard this way.
* in ''The Feathered Serpent'' by Chris Heimerdinger, King Jacob says this to Melody after she tells him her Uncle Garth doesn't know the information he wants. Still convinced that Garth has the info, [[spoiler:he threatens Melody's life and starts to slowly murder her before the helpless man's eyes]].

* Crops up in the ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' series frequently where Mesa is involved, often becoming a motivation to track down hard evidence. An example would come in ''At All Costs'', when Honor is visited by Anton Zilwicki and Victor Cachat. They inform Honor that Haven was ''not'' responsible for a series of assassinations and have compelling arguments, but no hard evidence. Between this and the empathic abilities shared by Honor and her treecat Nimitz, Honor does not think they're lying, but the lack of evidence means that they're only telling the truth as far as they know it, leaving open the possibility of black ops plans they wouldn't been aware of. This is what prompts the pair of spies to head for Mesa for more concrete evidence, leading to the discovery of the [[AncientConspiracy Mesan Alignment]].
* ''Literature/TheLostFleet'': Discussed in passing when the protagonist first participates in the interrogation of an enemy prisoner. The intelligence officer overseeing the process briefs him on the LieDetector technology they use, and explicitly warns him that it can only pick up on ''deliberate'' dishonesty: If someone has been given an incomplete or distorted account of something they learned about secondhand then it won't show up on the readouts as a lie. What would happen if it were directed at someone who's suffering from delusional psychosis ([[spoiler: Such as Captain Falco after his mental breakdown]]) or other mental illness never comes up.
%% * ''Black Out'' by Lisa Unger

* ''Series/GreysAnatomy'' episode "Dream a Little Dream of Me"
-->'''Meredith:''' So what, you didn't believe that I would let you move in, in the first place?
-->'''Derek:''' I believe that you believe it.

* Liz on ''Series/{{Roswell}}'' got this reaction from another character when trying to tell them about the aliens.

* Melinda's friend, Delia, in ''Series/GhostWhisperer'' is an egregious example of this. She spends at least one season/year ''trying hard'' to fit this trope into her life, and for an episode [[TookALevelInDumbass Taking A Level In Stupidity]] by not believing anymore.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
** Xander overhears Buffy talking about being the Slayer in the pilot episode and confronts her with, "I only know that you ''think'' that you're the Slayer." Getting attacked by actual vampires [[BrokenMasquerade quickly clears up his misconception]].
** PlayedForLaughs when Buffy says it's not true that she [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption always resorts to violence]]. Xander replies, "The important thing is ''you'' believe that."
** Buffy says this regarding Spike's professions of love, as she refuses to accept that you can love without a soul. Spike is furious to have his feelings dismissed so casually, especially as he believes that Buffy shares them.
* In the {{Pilot}} of ''Series/OnceUponATime'', Henry tells Emma, a LivingLieDetector, about Storybrooke's nature as a town of amnesiac fairytale characters. When Emma doesn't believe him, Henry asks her to tell if he's lying. She confirms he isn't, but then says that doesn't mean he's right.
* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode [[Recap/DoctorWhoS38E7CanYouHearMe "Can You Hear Me?"]] Tahira insists that the monsters she's trying to warn everyone about are real, and Maryam's response is "I understand they seem real to you."
* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' has [[TheEmpath Counselor Troi]], when asked if someone is lying, often using variations on this line, like "I sense no deception in him" or "He certainly believes it".

* There was one episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'' about a daydreaming smurf meeting an alien, and while Papa Smurf did not just believe him he said that at least he thought that it was possible. This got its reward in the end of the episode, when he also would see the alien's spaceship leaving (with the rest of the smurfs still believing the other smurf to be crazy).
* Kyle uses this line on Cartman in the ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "Fishsticks", where Cartman is concerned that Jimmy is going to take all the credit for a joke they "co-wrote." Kyle tells Cartman that he believes Cartman thinks he helped write the joke because his [[SelfServingMemory ego won't let him think otherwise]]. Later in the episode, Cartman remembers what Kyle said and [[IronicEcho applies it to Jimmy]], thinking this is what Kyle really meant.
* A RunningGag on ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}'' had Dexter's JerkJock older brother trying to convince their parents about the big blue-and-red fairy tormenting him (actually Dexter's eponymous SuperpoweredAlterEgo exacting some revenge). After one plea, [[StepfordSmiler Mom]] replies cheerily, "Oh, we believe that ''you'' believe it, dear, but ''you'' believe it because you're an incurable nutcase."

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Jet tells a story that is obviously false, yet Toph's normally foolproof lie-detector ability suggests he's telling the truth. Everyone comes to the conclusion that Jet thinks he's telling the truth, but has actually been the victim of brainwashing.

[[folder:Web comics]]

* ''Something Evil''

* This is effectively how the United States and the People's Republic of China deal with the issue of Taiwan when the two established formal diplomatic relations in 1979. Up to that point, the United States recognized the Republic of China on Taiwan as the sole legitimate ruling authority of China, and both the PRC and ROC maintain a "One China" policy (the difference, of course, being who represents that One China)[[note]]To this day, neither will have diplomatic relations with any country that has relations with the other[[/note]]. To get around the potential relations nightmare (both international and public) of dropping the anticommunist government for the communist one in the midst of the UsefulNotes/ColdWar, the US's official position on the issue (as expressed in the Shanghai Communiqué of 1972) is that it "acknowledges" the PRC's position on the One China policy (as opposed to "endorsing" it). China was willing to [[SureLetsGoWithThat go along with this]] in order to develop relations with the West after the Sino-Soviet Split.[[/folder]]

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDoom''. Vandal Savage tells the Legion of Doom that he's an immortal from before the dawn of humanity. Ma'alefa'ak , who can read minds, is only willing to concede that Savage believes the story he's telling them.

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDoom''. When Vandal Savage tells the Legion of Doom that he's an immortal from the dawn of Mankind, he tells Ma'alefa'ak to read his mind to confirm he's speaking the truth. Ma'alefa'ak is only willing to concede that Savage believes the story he's telling them.

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDoom''. When Vandal Savage tells the Legion of Doom that he's an immortal being from the dawn of Mankind, he tells Ma'alefa'ak to read his mind to confirm he's speaking the truth. Ma'alefa'ak is only willing to concede that Savage believes the story he's telling them.

* ''Black Out'' by Lisa Unger

* In the {{Pilot}} of ''Series/OnceUponATime'', Henry tells Emma, a LivingLieDecector, about Storybrooke's nature as a town of amnesiac fairytale characters. When Emma doesn't believe him, Henry asks her to tell if he's lying. She confirms he isn't, but then says that doesn't mean he's right.

* Medieval heretics [[CaptainObvious didn't like to be caught by the Inquisitions]] but a lot of them also didn't like to lie, since that was frequently one of those things that they found so reprehensible about mainstream religion that they would bother to be heretics with the associated risks and effort, so Inquisitors' manuals are full of warnings of their trying tricks based on this. Especially in the form:

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Jet tells a story that is obviously false, yet Toph's normally foolproof lie-detector ability suggests he's telling the truth. The conclusion is that Jet thinks he's telling the truth, but has actually been the victim of brainwashing.

In the Pilot of * ''Series/OnceUponATime'', Henry tells Emma, a LivingLieDecector, about Storybrooke's nature as a town of amnesiac fairytale characters. When Emma doesn't believe him, Henry asks her to tell if he's lying. She confirms he isn't, but then says that doesn't mean he's right.

Either way, Bob's not accusing Alice of lying, but he's still not quite as understanding as Alice might hope. He's implying (in the former case) that she's over-imaginative, paranoid, even crazy, or (in the latter) that she doesn't know herself as well as he does or that she lacks follow-through. In any case, Alice usually finds it pretty insulting, even though in most cases Bob means well by it. Related to DamnedByFaintPraise, TriviallyObvious. [[IThoughtItMeant Not related to]] [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann believing in someone who believes in you.]]

* In ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', a successful use of the Bluff skill is used to make someone believe you're being genuine even when you're not. As ''WebComic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0767.html can demonstrate]], it is ''much'' too easy to buff this skill to the point where even the most BlatantLies will stick without any trouble. Many [=GMs=] therefore declare that "convincing the NPC you're being genuine" ''doesn't'' mean "convincing the NPC to believe what you said", and the NPC will just decide you're a very strange person who honestly believes something clearly false. ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' made this fix explicit.

* In ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', a successful use of the Bluff skill is used to make someone believe you're being genuine even when you're not. A particularly [[KillerGameMaster sadistic DM]] (or simply a reasonable one trying to curb {{Munchkin}}ism through BotheringByTheBook) can use this trope to make people believe characters aren't lying without actually buying into their bluffs. Given how easily it is to turn the bluff skill into a GameBreaker if you do ''not'' employ this trope (as demonstrated by ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0767.html here]]), this may be justified.

* This is basically the entire reaction of the Tau in ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40K'' where the Warp is concerned. Since they have a natural immunity to anything Warp-related, (including, but not limited to, HearingVoices, psychic powers, and that perennial favorite DemonicPossession), they see the Imperium happily slaughtering their own men by the thousand to prevent this kind of corruption, but simply can't imagine it happening to them (they know Chaos daemons exist, but see them as a race of psychic aliens rather than sentient emotion given form, and their FTL travel doesn't go near the Warp, but is much slower, so no HyperspaceIsAScaryPlace for them).

* There was one episode of ''TheSmurfs'' about a daydreaming smurf meeting an alien, and while Papa Smurf did not just believe him he said that at least he thought that it was possible. This got its reward in the end of the episode, when he also would see the alien's spaceship leaving (with the rest of the smurfs still believing the other smurf to be crazy).

* A RunningGag on ''{{Freakazoid}}'' had Dexter's JerkJock older brother trying to convince their parents about the big blue-and-red fairy tormenting him (actually Dexter's eponymous SuperpoweredAlterEgo exacting some revenge). After one plea, [[StepfordSmiler Mom]] replies cheerily, "Oh, we believe that ''you'' believe it, dear, but ''you'' believe it because you're an incurable nutcase."

* ''StarTrekNewFrontier: Treason''. Kalinda believes her dead brother is talking to her.

* Though the Stock Phrase isn't used in so many words, Wataru in ''BraveStory'' characterizes his uncle's reaction to Wataru telling him he met a wizard this way.