158 motifs match “believe” — showing the first 100; narrow the words for the rest  ·  back to the chapters

• Repeated transformations to deceive wives. A husband thus makes each of his many wives believe that he is always with her. D616
• Man magically made to believe himself bishop, archbishop, and pope. When he continues to refuse payment to the magician, the latter shows him the reality. D2031.5
• Ghost of woman chides unbeliever. E367.5
• Changeling made to believe that his house is burning up; he leaves. F321.1.4.9
• The purchased cobold discarded. On way home man believes himself cheated, and throws box with fly or piece of charcoal away. Later passing same place he finds a heap of corn or money. F481.0.1.2.1
• Witch makes girl believe her lover has ass's head. G269.22
• Witch makes man believe a dead bull is alive and chasing him. G269.24
• Devil by trick conjures vision to make idolators of believers. G303.9.4.5.1
• Test: telling five lies which should so closely resemble the truth the tester will believe them himself. H509.5.1
• Where is the center of the earth? Here; if you don't believe it, measure it yourself. H681.3.1
• How far is it from earth to heaven? So and so high, and if you don't believe it, measure it yourself. H682.1.3
• How wide is heaven? So and so wide, and if you do not believe it, go measure it yourself. H682.2.1
• How much does the moon weigh? So and so much, and if you don't believe it go and weigh it yourself. H691.1.2
• How much water is in the sea? So and so much, and if you don't believe it, go measure it yourself. H696.1.2
• How many stars in the heavens? As many as the grains of sand; if you don't believe it, count them yourself. H702.1
• How many stars in the heaven? Two million; if you don't believe it, count them yourself. H702.1.1
• How many stars in the heavens? As many as the hairs in the head; if you don't believe it, count them yourself. H702.2
• How many stars in the heavens? As many as the points on paper; if you don't believe it, count them yourself. H702.3
• How many hairs are there in the head? As many as are in the tail of my ass; if you don't believe it we will keep pulling out one hair from your beard and one from his tail. H703.1
• How many leaves are on the tree? So and so many; and if you don't believe it, go count them. H705.2
• Test of gratitude: magician makes pupil believe himself superior. Though he has promised magician great rewards he forgets his promise. Wealth removed. H1565.1
• "Never believe what is beyond belief": counsel proved wise by experience. Man believes when bird tells him that she has a precious gem in her body. (Cf. J21.12, K604.) J21.13
• Birds flee from cuckoo who, they believe, will later become a hawk. J645.1
• Physician willing to believe in four persons. Angers a theologian by disputing doctrine of the Trinity. "Don't get angry," he says; "rather than have you condemn me to hell, I would believe in four persons." J817.2
• Old simpleton resolves to become a senator. He is made to believe that he is wanted as an archer and is so frightened that he dies. J955.4
• Talkative wife discredited. Husband tells his talkative wife about treasure he has discovered. To discredit her report he tells her also of impossible things (woodcock in the fish net, fish in the bird trap, etc.). She repeats it all and whole story is disbelieved. Husband may keep his treasure. J1151.1.1
• The sausage rain. (Or rain of figs, fishes, or milk.) A mother in order to discredit testimony of her foolish son who has killed a man makes him believe that it has rained sausages. When he says that he killed the man on the night it rained sausages his testimony is discredited. J1151.1.3
• Witness claims the borrowed coat: discredited. Trickster summoned to court on Jew's complaint refuses to go unless he has a new coat: Jew lends him his. In court the trickster says that the Jew is a liar: "He will even claim that I am wearing his coat." The Jew does so and no one believes him. J1151.2
• Testimony of unsuccessful suitor discredited. Adulteress is surprised in intrigue by unsuccessful suitor. He threatens to tell her husband. She tells her husband that the scorned suitor has accused her falsely of indiscretion with many men. When the suitor tells the husband he does not believe him. J1151.4
• God in the puddle. A Jew objects to the doctrine that God could exist in the Virgin Mary. A disputant asks if he believes God is everywhere; then if God is in a mud puddle. The Jew agrees. The disputant condemns the Jew for believing that God could exist in a puddle and not in a pure virgin. J1262.2
• Choosing his confessor. Ruler explains: "I want a lying priest so that if he repeats my confession he will not be believed." J1263.6
• The capon and the hen. Bishop refuses a favor to an abbess on the ground that he does not love her. Abbess: "I can well believe that. The capon never loves the hen." J1269.6
• How the tail pointed. One who believes in auguries asks peasant woman if she has seen a bird. "Yes, a crow." And in what direction was his tail pointing?" Answer: "Toward the rear!" J1305
• Though old woman is made to believe she is in hell she calls for drinking companions. J1321.2
• The forgotten traditions. A man has been told by a seer that there are two ways in which a believer may be distinguished. But he has forgotten one of them and the seer had forgotten the other. J1445
• Make-believe eating, make-believe work. At table the peasant says, "We will only act as if we were eating." At work the servant replies, "We will only act as if we were working." J1511.1
• The porter's revenge for the three wise counsels. A man offers a porter three wise counsels for carrying his goods. "When anyone tells you that hunger and satisfaction are the same, don't believe him." The second and third are similar and equally valueless. The porter throws down the load: "When anyone tells you that any part of this load is not broken, don't believe him." J1511.6
• Overcurious wife learns of the senate's deliberations. Husband (son) tells her that they have decided that each man may have many wives. Gullible wife believes it. J1546
• The ass is not at home. A man wants to borrow an ass. The owner says that the ass is not at home. The ass brays and the borrower protests. "Will you believe an ass and not a graybeard like me?" J1552.1.1
• The priest makes the omen come true. A woman crosses herself when she meets a priest, as if he were the devil. She says that meeting a priest always brings her bad luck. The priest knocks her down and steps on her. "As ye believe, so shall it be." J1624
• Author believes that his book must be stupid. Stupid people and gossipers are praising it. J1714.4
• Foolish wife believes goats' heads are human heads. J1762.9
• Fool believes realistic story. Inappropriate action. J1849.1
• Teaching chickens to talk. Fool believes they can be taught. J1882.1
• The ass as mayor. Fool made to believe that his ass (ox) has been educated and has become mayor. J1882.2
• Woman thinks calf's bleating has accused her of stealing from harvest. Begs that people not believe what calf said. (Cf. N611.) J1895
• Fool believes that he has begot child with his sister by an earbox. J1919.7
• Fool at baths believes he is someone else. Sees everybody naked. Puts straw on his shoulder to identify himself. Straw floats to another bather. "You are me and I am you!" J2012.6
• Man made to believe that he is someone else. J2013
• White man made to believe that he is a negro. Sleeps with a negro. His friends blacken him during the night. When he is waked up, he complains that they have waked the wrong man. J2013.1
• Man made to believe that he is a dog. He barks at people. J2013.2
• Numskull made to believe he is an evil spirit. J2013.4
• Fool believes plea of not guilty even though he has seen man injure him. J2045
• The shepherd who cried "Wolf!" too often. When the wolf really comes no one believes him. J2172.1
• How does he know? A rustic refuses to believe reports about hell from a priest who has not been there. J2221
• Book gives wisdom. A man believes himself wise because he has a book which he uses but does not understand. J2238
• Chanticleer believes that his crowing makes the sun rise. Disappointed when it rises without his aid. J2272.1
• Fools believe sun sleeps at certain woman's house. J2272.3
• Person made to believe that he is dead. J2311
• Wife makes her husband believe that he is dead. (Cf. J2301.) J2311.0.1
• Man believes he is to die when he breaks wind. Lies down for dead. J2311.1.1
• Man believes, he will die when water falls on his head. J2311.1.3
• Numskull believes he is dead when pumpkin falls on his head. J2311.1.3.1
• Man believes he will die when he gets a scarlet thread on his coat. J2311.1.4
• The "poisoned" pot. The wife tells the husband that a certain pot of preserves is poison. He decides to kill himself and eats the preserves. He believes that he is poisoned and lies down for dead. J2311.2
• Parents made to believe that they are dead and are married to each other again. J2311.8
• Naked person made to believe that he is clothed. J2312
• Layman made to believe that he is a monk. J2314
• Gullible husb and made to believe he has cut off his wife's nose. She, in another house, has had her nose cut off by mistake. She makes him believe he has done it by making him angry enough to throw a razor at her. When he throws the razor she claims it has cut off her nose. J2315.2
• Husband made to believe that his house has moved during his absence. The wife and her confederates transform the house into an inn with tables, signs, drinkers, etc. The husband cannot find his house. J2316
• Well man made to believe that he is sick. J2317
• Man made to believe that he is pregnant (has borne child). J2321
• Parson made to believe that he will bear a calf. In having his urine examined by a doctor, a cow's is substituted by mistake. (Or he dreams that he has borne a calf.) When a calf comes into the house he thinks that he has borne it. (Cf. J1734.1, K1955.2.) J2321.1
• Husband makes wife and mother-in-law believe he will bear a sheep. His wife was pregnant when he married her. J2321.3
• Drunken man made to believe that he has been to heaven and hell. He is dressed up as a rich lord and given rich food and drink. When put back into his own clothes he thinks that he has been to heaven. J2322
• Numskull believes that he is married to a man. Two men's hands joined in fun with words "I marry you." Fool thinks that he must get a bishop to annul the marriage. J2323
• Husband made to believe that yarn has changed to tow through his carelessness. Thus his lazy wife is relieved from spinning. J2325
• Fool believes gold in bag turns to ashes because of child's urinating on it. Actually bag contained only ashes. J2325.1
• Fool locked in dark room made to believe that it is continuous night. J2332
• Jewess makes parents believe that she is to give birth to the Messiah. She bears a girl. J2336
• Adulteress makes husband believe that the birth of her mulatto child has been due to suggestion. J2338
• Husband refuses to believe in wife's infidelity. J2342
• Husband refuses to believe that his wife is unfaithful, even when she is caught in the act. J2342.1
• Woman gives birth to child fourteen months after husband's departure. The latter is made to believe it is legitimate. J2342.2.1
• Dupe is made to believe horse will fly. J2349.1
• Wife makes husband believe that her paramour is Death. J2349.2
• The woman who asked for news from home. Gets many impossible answers, which she believes. E.g., "The cock has become sexton." – "Yes, that is why he sang so well in the morning." J2349.4
• Fowl makes another animal believe that he has had his leg cut off. Says that he has received large pay. He has his leg hidden under his wing. The elephant (hippopotamus) cuts his off and bleeds to death. (Cf. J2401.) J2413.4.1
• Fowl makes another animal believe that he has had his neck cut off. He has his neck hidden under his wing. The hare cuts his off and dies. (Cf. J2401.) J2413.4.2
• Letter believed against clear evidence. Fool believes letter apparently reporting his uncle's death, though he has just seen uncle. J2528
• Deceptive eating contest: hole in bag. The hero slips his food into a bag and makes the ogre believe that he is the greater eater. (In many versions the hero cuts open the bag; the ogre imitates and kills himself.) (Cf. K82.1.) K81.1
• Alleged healing letter sold. Woman sold a letter to wear around her neck which will prevent eye trouble. It helps only so long as she believes in it. K115.1
• Dupe, made to believe that trickster becomes a wolf when he yawns three times, flees and leaves his clothes behind him. K335.0.4.1
• Porcupine, made to believe that rabbit's ears are horns, flees and leaves food behind. K335.0.4.2
• Son-in-law steals father-in-law's pants by making latter believe he has dirtied them. K344.3
• Trickster persuades tailor to leave his goods. Makes him believe he will get order to clothe fifty poor. Trickster makes away with goods. (Or tries on boots and makes away with them.) K351.1
• Thief makes believe that he has been robbed of money entrusted to him. K401.4
• Stolen sheep's tails severed and put in tree. Owner made to believe that they have escaped through the air. K404.3
• Grain-thief's wagon falls into ditch: duped owner helps him. The thief makes the owner believe that the grain belongs to the thief. K405.1
• Supper won by trick: the mutual friend. A parasite makes the host believe him to be a friend of a certain guest and the guest to think him a friend of the host. K455.1