Sampras said he had to convince himself of his own ability to save the three break points.

BBC: Sampras beats 'desert demons'

But even then, after a moment of pure joy combined with disbelief, Leoni couldn't convince himself that an upset was brewing.

WSJ: Eight Seconds of Soccer Glory

Editor Ian Christopher McCaleb has finally ceased trying to convince himself that his career as a journalist is a temporary distraction.

CNN: An insider's glance at the AllPolitics players

How does he convince himself of his flatterers' sincerity, especially when he's got his own cynic philosopher, Apemantus, telling him the truth?

WSJ: Review: Hytner Makes Sense of Timon | 'Timon of Athens' at the National Theatre in London

Now he plans to run in the upcoming elections and has been trying to convince voters that he has distanced himself from the Venezuelan leader.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Ollanta Humala, Peru's worst nightmare

Furthermore, it is possible that the whiff of corruption detected by Mr Alami will convince Iranians that, while Mr Khatami himself is honest, ministers have been waylaid on the path to democracy by old-fashioned enjoyment of power.

ECONOMIST: Muhammad Khatami's new cabinet proves disappointing