We are terrified by the idea of being terrified.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
The source of anxiety lies in the future. If you can keep the future out of mind, you can forget your worries.
—Milan Kundera (b.1929) Czech Novelist
A fellow can’t keep people from having a bad opinion of him, but he can keep them from being right about it.
—Unknown
Constant exposure to dangers will breed contempt for them.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Anxiety is fear of one’s self.
—Wilhelm Stekel (1868–1940) Austrian Physician, Psychologist
Death is not the enemy; living in constant fear of it is.
—Norman Cousins (1915–90) American Journalist, Author, Academic, Activist
Grief has limits, whereas apprehension has none. For we grieve only for what we know has happened, but we fear all that possibly may happen.
—Pliny the Younger (c.61–c.112 CE) Roman Senator, Writer
Often I have found that the one thing that can save is the thing which appears most to threaten … one has to go down into what one most fears and in that process … comes a saving flicker of light and energy that, even if it does not produce the courage of a hero, at any rate enables a trembling mortal to take one step further.
—Laurens van der Post (1906–96) South African-born British Political leader, Author, Educator, Journalist, Humanitarian
What some call health, if purchased by perpetual anxiety about diet, isn’t much better than tedious disease.
—George D. Prentice (1802–70) American Journalist, Editor
Considering how dangerous everything is, nothing is really very frightening.
—Gertrude Stein (1874–1946) American Writer
I believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do, provided he keeps doing them until he gets a record of successful experience behind him.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
There is no hope unmingled with fear, and no fear unmingled with hope.
—Baruch Spinoza (1632–77) Dutch Philosopher, Theologian
Fear is an emotion indispensable for survival.
—Hannah Arendt (1906–75) German-American Philosopher, Political Theorist
Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound. The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can never fail to accomplish the object upon which his heart is set. This is true of earthly as of heavenly things. Even the man whose object is to acquire wealth must be prepared to make great personal sacrifices before he can accomplish his object; and how much more so he who would realize a strong and well-poised life.
—James Allen (1864–1912) British Philosophical Writer
Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is th beginning of wisdom.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
We should not let our fears hold us back from pursuing our hopes.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
These then are my last words to you. Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
The habit of doing one’s duty drives away fear.
—Charles Baudelaire (1821–67) French Poet, Art Critic, Essayist, Translator
I, a stranger and afraid, in a world I never made.
—A. E. Housman (1859–1936) English Poet, Classical Scholar
Fear makes us feel our humanity.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
Fear is sharp-sighted, and can see things under ground, and much more in the skies.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
Fear is only an illusion. It is the illusion that creates the feeling of separateness — the false sense of isolation that exists only in your imagination.
—Jeraldine Saunders (1923–2019) American Writer, Television Personality
Every time I start a picture … I feel the same fear, the same self-doubts … and I have only one source on which I can draw, because it comes from within me.
—Federico Fellini (1920–93) Italian Filmmaker
General Grant had a simple, childlike recipe for meeting life … “I am terribly afraid, but the other fellow is afraid, too”.
—Sherwood Anderson (1876–1941) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Above all things, never be afraid. The enemy who forces you to retreat is himself afraid of you at that very moment.
—Andre Maurois (1885–1967) French Novelist, Biographer
Fear is the absence of faith.
—Paul Tillich (1886–1965) American Lutheran Theologian, Philosopher
Envy and fear are the only passions to which no pleasure is attached.
—John Churton Collins (1848–1908) English Literary Critic
To tremble before anticipated evils, is to bemoan what thou hast never lost.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
A good scare is worth more to a man than good advice.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
Fear not that thy life shall come to an end, but rather fear that it shall never have a beginning.
—John Henry Newman (1801–90) British Theologian, Poet
The way you overcome shyness is to become so wrapped up in something that you forget to be afraid.
—Lady Bird Johnson (1912–2007) First Lady of the United States, Conservationist
It has been said that our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
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
He who foresees calamities suffers them twice over.
—Beilby Porteus (1731–1809) Anglican Bishop of London
We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason if we remember that we are not descended from fearful men, not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate and to defend causes which were, for the moment, unpopular.
—Edward R. Murrow (1908–65) American Journalist, Radio Personality
Worry is interest paid on trouble before it falls due.
—Unknown
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
We are more disturbed by a calamity which threatens us than by one which has befallen us.
—John Lancaster Spalding (1840–1916) American Catholic Clergyman, Educator, Essayist, Biographer
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
Every man, through fear, mugs his aspirations a dozen times a day.
—Brendan Behan (1923–64) Irish Poet, Novelist, Playwright
Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.
—Vincent van Gogh (1853–90) Dutch Painter
Just as courage imperils life; fear protects it.
—Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian Polymath, Painter, Sculptor, Inventor, Architect
Love looks forward, hate looks back, anxiety has eyes all over its head.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
Fear is the sand in the machinery of life.
—E. Stanley Jones (1884–1973) American Methodist Priest, Theologian
Fear of life in one form or another is the great thing to exorcise.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
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
When thinking won’t cure fear, action will.
—W. Clement Stone (1902–2002) American Self-help Guru, Entrepreneur
Any device whatever by which one frees himself from fear is a natural good.
—Epicurus (c.341–270 BCE) Greek Philosopher
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look at fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along”. You must do the think you think you cannot do.”
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
Humor acts to relieve fear.
—William F. Fry, Jr.
There is often less danger in the things we fear than in the things we desire.
—John Churton Collins (1848–1908) English Literary Critic
How often the fear of one evil leads into a worse.
—Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux (1636–1711) French Poet, Satirist, Literary Critic
A champion is afraid of losing. Everyone else is afraid of winning.
—Billie Jean King (b.1943) American Tennis Player
While we wait in silence for that final luxury of fearlessness, the weight of that silence will choke us.
—Audre Lorde (1934–92) American Poet, Activist
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
Healthy children will not fear life if their elders have integrity enough not to fear death.
—Erik Erikson (1902–94) German-born American Developmental Psychologist
Nothing is more despicable than respect based on fear.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
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
Anxiety about the future never profits; we feel no evil until it comes, and when we feel it, no counsel helps; wisdom is either too early or too late.
—Friedrich Ruckert (1788–1866) German Poet, Translator
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
From a distance it is something; and nearby it is nothing.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
Cast your cares on God; that anchor holds.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
Cowardice, as distinguished from panic, is almost always simply a lack of ability to suspend the functioning of the imagination.
—Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) American Author, Journalist, Short Story Writer
I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
—William Allen White (1868–1944) American Editor, Politician, Author
The worst of all fears is the fear of living.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
Fear is the start of wisdom.
—Miguel de Unamuno (1864–1936) Spanish Educator, Philosopher, Author
Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
If pleasures are greatest in anticipation, just remember that this is also true of troubles.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
True success is overcoming the fear of being unsuccessful.
—Paul Sweeney
Nothing in the affairs of men is worthy of great anxiety.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
You cannot run away from a weakness. You must sometimes fight it out or perish; and if that be so, why not now, and where you stand?
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
Joking about death — or anything else that oppresses us — makes it less frightening.
—Allen Klein (1931–2009) American Businessperson
Fear to let fall a drop and you spill a lot.
—Malaysian Proverb
There is no such thing as pure pleasure; some anxiety always goes with it.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
A fool without fear is sometimes wiser than an angel with fear.
—Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor (1879–1964) American-born British Politician
Anxiety is the poison of human life; the parent of many sins and of more miseries. — In a world where everything is doubtful, and where we may be disappointed, and be blessed in disappointment, why this restless stir and commotion of mind? — Can it alter the cause, or unravel the mystery of human events?
—Hugh Blair (1718–1800) Scottish Preacher, Scholar, Critic
Where everything is bad it must be good to know the worst.
—F. H. Bradley (1846–1924 ) British Idealist Philosopher
Things done well and with care, exempt themselves from fear.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
It is only the fear of God that can deliver us from the fear of man.
—John Witherspoon (1723-94) Scottish-American Presbyterian Theologian
A perfect faith would lift us absolutely above fear.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
Anxiety is the mark of spiritual insecurity.
—Thomas Merton (1915–68) American Trappist Monk
Fear is an uneasiness of the mind, upon the thought of a future evil likely to befall us.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
Fears are educated into us, and can, if we wish, be educated out.
—Karl Menninger (1893–1990) American Psychiatrist
Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.
—Marie Curie (1867–1934) Polish-born French Physicist, Chemist