Fear is proof of a low born soul.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet
You can actually shift your thinking in such a way as to make a wrong decision or mistake an impossibility.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
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
Fear may come true that which one is afraid of.
—Viktor Frankl (1905–97) Austrian Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist
And only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live in every experience, painful or joyous; to live in gratitude for every moment, to live abundantly.
—Dorothy Thompson (1893–1961) American Journalist, Radio Personality
How would you feel if you had no fear? Feel like that. How would you behave toward other people if you realized their powerlessness to hurt you? Behave like that. How would your react to so-called misfortune if you saw its inability to bother you? React like that. How would you think toward yourself if you knew you were really all right? Think like that.
—Vernon Howard (1918–92) American Spiritual Teacher, Philosopher
Remember that much of the trick of moving from pain to power is taking action. ACTION IS VERY POWERFUL!
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
THE TRUTH IS THAT YOU REALLY ARE IN CONTROL—IN TOTAL CONTROL.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
Don’t be deceived into thinking that by changing the external, the internal will be changed. It works the other way around. The path that needs changing is the one in your mind.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
One of the effects of fear is to disturb the senses and cause things to appear other than what they are.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
There was never any fear for me, no fear of failure. If I miss a shot, so what?
—Michael Jordan (b.1963) American Sportsperson, Businessperson
We should not let our fears hold us back from pursuing our hopes.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
As another ancient sage once said, “The pathway is smooth. Why do you throw rocks before you?”
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
Evil is uncertain in the same degree as good, and for the reason that we ought not to hope too securely, we ought not to fear with too much dejection.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
I have not ceased being fearful, but I have ceased to let fear control me. I have accepted fear as a part of life—specifically the fear of change, the fear of the unknown; and I have gone ahead despite the pounding in my heart that says: turn back, turn back, you’ll die if you venture too far.
—Erica Jong (b.1942) American Novelist, Feminist
Nothing is so rash as fear; its counsels very rarely put off, whilst they are always sure to aggravate the evils from which it would fly.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
There are several good protections against temptations, but the surest is cowardice.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Fear is a habit; so is self-pity, defeat, anxiety, despair, hopelessness and resignation. You can eliminate all of these negative habits with two simple resolves: I can!! and I will!!
—Unknown
Action is the key to your success.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
I have learned that there is always more to learn. And experience is our greatest teacher.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
Kill the snake of doubt in your soul, crush the worms of fear in your heart and mountains will move out of your way.
—Kate Seredy
Why be miserable when you can be happy?
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
Courage is knowing what not to fear.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
Humor acts to relieve fear.
—William F. Fry, Jr.
It seems that the necessary thing to do is not to fear mistakes, to plunge in, to do the best that one can, hoping to learn enough from blunders to correct them eventually.
—Abraham Maslow (1908–70) American Psychologist, Academic, Humanist
We need to practice acting in spite of fear, in spite of doubt, in spite of worry, in spite of uncertainty, in spite of inconvenience, in spite of discomfort, and even to practice acting when we’re not in the mood to act.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
The habit of doing one’s duty drives away fear.
—Charles Baudelaire (1821–67) French Poet, Art Critic, Essayist, Translator
Fear is a cloak which old men huddle about their love, as if to keep it warm.
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850) English Poet
To have courage, one must first be afraid. The deeper the fear, the more difficult the climb toward courage.
—Jim Bishop (1907–87) American Journalist, Author
O, how vain and vile a passion is this fear! What base, uncomely things it makes men do.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
We can’t control the world, but we can control our reactions to it.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
Love is what we are born with. Fear is what we learn. The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and prejudices and the acceptance of love back in our hearts. Love is the essential reality and our purpose on earth. To be consciously aware of it, to experience love in ourselves and others, is the meaning of life.
Meaning doesn’t lie in things. Meaning lies in us. When we attach value to things that aren’t love – the money, the car, the house, the prestige – we are loving things that can’t love us back. We are searching for meaning in the meaningless. Money, of itself, means nothing. Material things, of themselves, mean nothing. It’s not that they’re bad. It’s that they’re nothing.
—Marianne Williamson (b.1952) American Activist, Author, Lecturer
Every one of us gets through the tough times because somebody is there, standing in the gap to close it for us.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
Do the thing you fear to do and keep on doing it…that is the quickest and surest way ever yet discovered to conquer fear.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
Most of the fear that spoils our life comes from attacking difficulties before we get them.
—Frank Hall Crane (1873–1948) American Stage and Film Actor, Director
Were the diver to think on the jaws of the shark, he would never lay hands on the precious pearl.
—Sa’Di (Musharrif Od-Din Muslih Od-Din) (c.1213–91) Persian Poet
Fear is the most damnable, damaging thing to human personality in the whole world.
—William Faulkner (1897–1962) American Novelist
When one has the feeling of dislike for evil, when one feels tranquil, one finds pleasure in listening to good teachings; when one has these feelings and appreciates them, one is free of fear.
—Buddhist Teaching
Fear is faith that it won’t work out.
—Unknown
Shame arises from the fear of men, conscience from the fear of God.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
He who strikes terror in others is himself continually in fear.
—Claudian (c.370–c.404 CE) Roman Poet
Bad behavior and irrational decisions are almost always caused by fear. If you want to change the behavior, address the fear.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
Traffic is like a bad dog. It isn’t important to look both ways when crossing the street. It’s important to not show fear.
—P. J. O’Rourke (b.1947) American Journalist, Political Satirist
Fear is not a lasting teacher of duty.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
When we give from a place of love, rather than from a place of expectation, more usually comes back to us than we could have ever imagined.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
What we fear comes to pass more speedily than what we hope.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Fear only two: God, and the man who has no fear of God.
—Hebrew Proverb
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
Fear of death is worse than dying.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
An ugly sight, a man who is afraid.
—Jean Anouilh (1910–87) French Dramatist