One had to take some action against fear when once it laid hold of one.
—Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926) Austrian Poet
Stripped of all their masquerades, the fears of men are quite identical: the fear of loneliness, rejection, inferiority, unmanageable anger, illness and death.
—Joshua L. Liebman (1907–48) American Jewish Rabbi, Author
Is there any sex-distinction in the Atman (Self)? Out with the differentiation between man and woman—all is Atman! Give up the identification with the body, and stand up!
—Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902) Indian Hindu Monk, Mystic
One ought never to turn one’s back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half. Never run away from anything. Never.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom.
—Soren Kierkegaard (1813–55) Danish Philosopher, Theologian
He who fears he shall suffer already suffers what he fears.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
The mind that is anxious about the future is miserable.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
If you knew how cowardly your enemy is, you would slap him. Bravery is knowledge of the cowardice in the enemy.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
The suspense is terrible, I hope it will last.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Fear is the thought of admitted inferiority.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
The superpowers often behave like two heavily armed blind men feeling their way around a room, each believing himself in mortal peril from the other, whom he assumes to have perfect vision.
—Henry Kissinger (b.1923) American Diplomat, Academician
No one can work and achieve efficiently with a pack of worries on his back. People who enjoy life and radiate their happiness fear nothing. Fear never has led, and never will lead, a man victoriously in any phase of life … . A cheerful frame of mind, reenforced by relaxation, which in itself banishes fatigue, is the medicine that puts all Ghosts of fear on the run! So, get fun out of what you do—and you will do much, and be glad that you are alive.
—George Matthew Adams (1878–1962) American Columnist, Journalist
When we borrow trouble, and look forward into the future and see what storms are coming, and distress ourselves before they come, as to how we shall avert them if they ever do come, we lose our proper trustfulness in God. When we torment ourselves with imaginary dangers, or trials, or reverses, we have already parted with that perfect love which casteth out fear.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Who’s not sat tense before his own heart’s curtain?
—Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926) Austrian Poet
Look not mournfully into the Past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the Present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy Future, without fear, and with a manly heart.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
Those who love to be feared fear to be loved, and they themselves are more afraid than anyone, for whereas other men fear only them, they fear everyone.
—Francis de Sales (1567–1622) French Catholic Saint
A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
We walk in circles, so limited by our own anxieties that we can no longer distinguish between true and false, between the gangster’s whim and the purest ideal
—Ingrid Bergman (1915–82) Swedish Actor
We must act in spite of fear … not because of it.
—Unknown
Some people are so afraid to die that they never begin to live.
—Henry van Dyke Jr. (1852–1933) American Author, Educator, Clergyman
We poison our lives with fear of burglary and shipwreck, and the house is never burgled, and the ship never goes down.
—Jean Anouilh (1910–87) French Dramatist
Fear of life in one form or another is the great thing to exorcise.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
Fear is an instructor of great sagacity and the herald of revolutions. One thing he teaches, that there is rottenness where he appears.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Fear: False Evidence Appearing Real.
—Unknown
The one permanent emotion of the inferior man is fear—fear of the unknown, the complex, the inexplicable. What he wants beyond everything else is safety.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
To relinquish a present good through apprehension of a future evil is in most instances unwise … from a fear which may afterwards turn out groundless, you lost the good that lay within your grasp.
—Francesco Guicciardini (1483–1540) Italian Historian, Political leader
Fear is uncertainty.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. And lo, no one was there.
—Unknown
There is a time to take counsel of your fears, and there is a time to never listen to any fear.
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader