Fear Quotes | Beyond Motive 3/17

top of page

Fear Quotes

"We must laugh before we are happy, for fear we die before we laugh at all."

"We must laugh before we are happy, for fear we die before we laugh at all."

Jean de La Fontaine, French Poet

6

"I believe it is incumbent upon Congress to act aggressively to ameliorate fear and help our country take the essential steps that will make our communities and lives safer."

"I believe it is incumbent upon Congress to act aggressively to ameliorate fear and help our country take the essential steps that will make our communities and lives safer."

Paul Gillmor, American Politician

Fear, Act, Congress, Country

6

"Failure seldom stops you. What stops you is the fear of failure."

"Failure seldom stops you. What stops you is the fear of failure."

Jack Lemmon, American Actor

6

"I'd say my greatest fear is fear itself."

"I'd say my greatest fear is fear itself."

Beth Orton, English Musician

5

"We've begun to put fear into those whites who think they can do anything they want to a black person and get away with it."

"We've begun to put fear into those whites who think they can do anything they want to a black person and get away with it."

Charles Evers, American Activist

5

"There is a lot of hype and fear about this much-talked-about prospect of designer babies."

"There is a lot of hype and fear about this much-talked-about prospect of designer babies."

Leon Kass, American Educator

5

"The fear of failure is so great, it is no wonder that the desire to do right by one's children has led to a whole library of books offering advice on how to raise them."

"The fear of failure is so great, it is no wonder that the desire to do right by one's children has led to a whole library of books offering advice on how to raise them."

Bruno Bettelheim, Italian Writer

Fear, Failure, Advice, Books

5

"I can imagine that the Iraqis undertake the destruction out of fear. If they had denied it, if they had said no, that certainly would have played into the hands of those that would like to take armed action immediately. I have no illusions in that regard."

"I can imagine that the Iraqis undertake the destruction out of fear. If they had denied it, if they had said no, that certainly would have played into the hands of those that would like to take armed action immediately. I have no illusions in that regard."

Hans Blix, Swedish Diplomat

Fear, Action, Destruction

5

"Ignorance breeds fear."

"Ignorance breeds fear."

Mike Wilson, American Journalist

Fear, Ignorance

5

"He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure."

"He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure."

James Lane Allen, American Author

Fear, Failure, Doubt

5

"In spite of your fear, do what you have to do."

"In spite of your fear, do what you have to do."

Chin-Ning Chu, Chinese Businessman

5

"Fools rush in where incumbents fear to tread."

"Fools rush in where incumbents fear to tread."

Norman Ralph Augustine, American Author

5

"If you are looking for a producer, try to contact established producers. Don't let the fear of theft paralyze you, or you will never get anywhere with it."

"If you are looking for a producer, try to contact established producers. Don't let the fear of theft paralyze you, or you will never get anywhere with it."

Penelope Spheeris, American Director

Fear, Theft, Will

5

"I have a lack of fear, whereas in the past the fear of failure was a powerful motivator. Anyway, I have great expectations for the future, but I just don't know if I'm the monarch of all I survey."

"I have a lack of fear, whereas in the past the fear of failure was a powerful motivator. Anyway, I have great expectations for the future, but I just don't know if I'm the monarch of all I survey."

Sylvester Stallone, American Actor

Fear, Failure, Expectations, Future

5

"Fear is a question. What are you afraid of and why? Our fears are a treasure house of self-knowledge if we explore them."

"Fear is a question. What are you afraid of and why? Our fears are a treasure house of self-knowledge if we explore them."

Marilyn French, American Author

Fear, Question, Self, Treasure

5

"Hate is the consequence of fear; we fear something before we hate it; a child who fears noises becomes a man who hates noise."

"Hate is the consequence of fear; we fear something before we hate it; a child who fears noises becomes a man who hates noise."

Cyril Connolly, English Journalist

Fear, Hate, Man

5

"Comedy is defiance. It's a snort of contempt in the face of fear and anxiety. And it's the laughter that allows hope to creep back on the inhale."

"Comedy is defiance. It's a snort of contempt in the face of fear and anxiety. And it's the laughter that allows hope to creep back on the inhale."

Will Durst, American Writer

Fear, Hope, Anxiety, Comedy

5

"Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself."

"Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself."

J. K. Rowling, English Author

5

"In the mass of mankind, I fear, there is too great a majority of fools and knaves; who, singly from their number, must to a certain degree be respected, though they are by no means respectable."

"In the mass of mankind, I fear, there is too great a majority of fools and knaves; who, singly from their number, must to a certain degree be respected, though they are by no means respectable."

Philip Stanhope, British Statesman

Fear, Fools, Majority, Mankind

5

"Fear nothing but what thy industry may prevent; be confident of nothing but what fortune cannot defeat; it is no less folly to fear what is impossible to be avoided than to be secure when there is a possibility to be deprived."

"Fear nothing but what thy industry may prevent; be confident of nothing but what fortune cannot defeat; it is no less folly to fear what is impossible to be avoided than to be secure when there is a possibility to be deprived."

Francis Quarles, English Poet

Fear, Possibility, Defeat, Folly

5

"To withdraw is not to run away, and to stay is no wise action, when there's more reason to fear than to hope."

"To withdraw is not to run away, and to stay is no wise action, when there's more reason to fear than to hope."

Miguel De Cervantes, Spanish Novelist

Fear, Action, Hope, Reason

5

"I understand why the Tories will be gunning for Alastair Campbell because they fear his campaigning skills."

"I understand why the Tories will be gunning for Alastair Campbell because they fear his campaigning skills."

Peter Mandelson, British Politician

5

"Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear."

"Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear."

Thomas Jefferson, American President

Fear, God, Boldness, Existence

5

"Everyone believes very easily whatever they fear or desire."

"Everyone believes very easily whatever they fear or desire."

Jean de La Fontaine, French Poet

5

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

Franklin D. Roosevelt, American President

5

"I remember being onstage once when I didn't have fear: I got so scared I didn't have fear that it brought on an anxiety attack."

"I remember being onstage once when I didn't have fear: I got so scared I didn't have fear that it brought on an anxiety attack."

Carly Simon, American Musician

Fear, Anxiety, Being

5

"Everything I've ever done was out of fear of being mediocre."

"Everything I've ever done was out of fear of being mediocre."

Chet Atkins, American Musician

5

"Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all."

"Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all."

Norman Vincent Peale, American Clergyman

Fear, Successful, Action, Cause

5

"It was impossible to reason with a negro-that the only way to keep him in his place was to keep him under fear."

"It was impossible to reason with a negro-that the only way to keep him in his place was to keep him under fear."

Henry Carter Stuart, American Politician

5

"But with the right kind of coaching and determination you can accomplish anything and the biggest accomplishment that I feel I got from the film was overcoming that fear."

"But with the right kind of coaching and determination you can accomplish anything and the biggest accomplishment that I feel I got from the film was overcoming that fear."

Reese Witherspoon, American Actress

Fear, Determination, Accomplishment, Coaching

5

"Actresses have more fear of being disliked. I, on the other hand, revel in it."

"Actresses have more fear of being disliked. I, on the other hand, revel in it."

Michael Douglas, American Actor

5

"Freedom is contagious. That's why despots fear it so much."

"Freedom is contagious. That's why despots fear it so much."

Bill Owens, American Politician

5

"I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear."

"I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear."

Rosa Parks, American Activist

Fear, Mind, Years

5

"I fear that the hearts of the vast majority of mankind would beat on strongly and steadily and without any quickening if the league were to perish altogether."

"I fear that the hearts of the vast majority of mankind would beat on strongly and steadily and without any quickening if the league were to perish altogether."

Henry Cabot Lodge, American Politician

Fear, Majority, Mankind

5

"Fear is the lengthened shadow of ignorance."

"Fear is the lengthened shadow of ignorance."

Arnold H. Glasow, American Humorist

Fear, Ignorance, Shadow

5

"In contrast, fear societies are societies in which dissent is banned."

"In contrast, fear societies are societies in which dissent is banned."

Natan Sharansky, Russian Writer

Fear, Contrast, Dissent

5

"Men! The only animal in the world to fear."

"Men! The only animal in the world to fear."

David Herbert Lawrence, English Writer

5

"Part of the reason that our politics seems so tough right now and facts and science and argument does not seem to be winning the day all the time is because we're hardwired not to always think clearly when we're scared."

"Part of the reason that our politics seems so tough right now and facts and science and argument does not seem to be winning the day all the time is because we're hardwired not to always think clearly when we're scared."

Barack Obama, American President

Fear, Politics, Science, Time, Winning

5

"When desire dies, fear is born."

"When desire dies, fear is born."

Baltasar Gracian, Spanish Philosopher

5

"I sincerely believe I could have wounded up in a lot of trouble if I had not been taught as a boy to fear Hell, and to believe that certain wicked acts could lead me to damnation."

"I sincerely believe I could have wounded up in a lot of trouble if I had not been taught as a boy to fear Hell, and to believe that certain wicked acts could lead me to damnation."

Robert Vaughn, American Actor

Fear, Hell, Trouble

5

"The fear of death is the most unjustified of all fears, for there's no risk of accident for someone who's dead."

"The fear of death is the most unjustified of all fears, for there's no risk of accident for someone who's dead."

Albert Einstein, German Scientist

Fear, Death, Risk, Justification

5

"Hey, we all have our fear. Mine is bugs and lobsters!"

"Hey, we all have our fear. Mine is bugs and lobsters!"

Brooke Burke, American Model

5

"I approach my character with the question: What would an animal think? How would an animal respond? A lot of times, it's quick action and no fear, and sometimes it's irrational fear. You don't always know."

"I approach my character with the question: What would an animal think? How would an animal respond? A lot of times, it's quick action and no fear, and sometimes it's irrational fear. You don't always know."

Victoria Pratt, Canadian Actress

Fear, Action, Character, Quick

5

"Don't fear your mortality, because it is this very mortality that gives meaning and depth and poignancy to all the days that will be granted to you."

"Don't fear your mortality, because it is this very mortality that gives meaning and depth and poignancy to all the days that will be granted to you."

Paul Tsongas, American Politician

Fear, Meaning, Mortality, Will

5

"The regrets of yesterday and the fear of tomorrow can kill you."

"The regrets of yesterday and the fear of tomorrow can kill you."

Liza Minnelli, American Actress

Fear, Tomorrow, Yesterday, Liza Minelli

5

"That fear first created the gods is perhaps as true as anything so brief could be on so great a subject."

"That fear first created the gods is perhaps as true as anything so brief could be on so great a subject."

George Santayana, American Philosopher

Fear, Gods, First

5

"There's nothing I'm afraid of like scared people."

"There's nothing I'm afraid of like scared people."

Robert Frost, American Poet

Fear, People, Emotion, Behavior

5

"Everyone, deep in their hears, is waiting for the end of the world to come."

"Everyone, deep in their hears, is waiting for the end of the world to come."

Haruki Murakami, Japanese Writer

Fear, End, Hope, Waiting

5

"Why is our fancy to be appalled by terrific perspectives of a hell beyond the grave?"

"Why is our fancy to be appalled by terrific perspectives of a hell beyond the grave?"

Mary Wollstonecraft, British Writer

Fear, Fancy, Grave, Hell

5

"She became so important to them that they wondered how they had ever managed without her in the past. And the longer she stayed with them the more indispensable she became, so indispensable in fact that their one fear was that she might some day move on."

"She became so important to them that they wondered how they had ever managed without her in the past. And the longer she stayed with them the more indispensable she became, so indispensable in fact that their one fear was that she might some day move on."

Michael Ende, German Writer

Fear, Day, Fact, Past

5

bottom of page