Famous quotes

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Fear

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“I’m afraid the camera got smashed against the side of the Space Hotel, Mr. President,” Shuckworth replied. The President said a very rude word into the microphone and ten million children across the nation began repeating it gleefully and got smacked by their parents.”
Roald Dahl (1916–1990) said by 1990 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“He who has realized God does not look upon a woman with the eye of lust; so he is not afraid of her. He perceives clearly that women are but so many aspects of the Divine Mother. He worships them all as the Mother Herself.”
Ramakrishna (1836–1886) said by 1886 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Was forty, then, too old for work like this? Why should it be? He'd never been afraid— His eye was sure, his hand was steady . . . But dreams had meanings.”
Conrad Aiken (1889–1973) said by 1973 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Truscott: Why aren't you both at the funeral? I thought you were mourners. Fay: We decided not to go. We were afraid we might break down. Truscott: That's a selfish attitude to take. The dead can't bury themselves, you know.”
Joe Orton (1933–1967) said by 1967 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When I was mounting upon ever higher crests of His joy, I asked myself whether there was no limit to the increase of bliss and almost I grew afraid of God's embraces.”
Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950) said by 1950 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Anything good that I have written has, at some point during its composition, left me feeling uneasy and afraid. It has seemed, for a moment at least, to put me at risk.”
Michael Chabon (born 1963) first seen 2000 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Recipe for Life, The Washington Book World (2000)
“(talking about how girls like mystery) Next time your lady leaves the room, take a dump on the floor! 'Cuz there is nothing more mysterious than a dump on the floor! And it always starts a conversation, am I right? Honey, what happened? You better hold me 'cause I'm afraid.”
Dave Attell (born 1965) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I saw how the night came, Came striding like the color of the heavy hemlocks. I felt afraid. And I remembered the cry of the peacocks.”
Wallace Stevens (1879–1955) said by 1955 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not afraid of anything.”
Cindy Sheehan (born 1957) first seen 2007 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Sheehan, in Cuba, protests Guantanamo prison," MSNBC (6 January 2007)
“My mom was always interested in [social and environmental justice movements]. Life on this planet becomes more joyful when you become less afraid of people who look or speak different than you.”
Chris Martin (born 1977) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Many people want and need someone to identify with, a man who is self-reliant, stands on his own two feet, and is not afraid to face adversity. They want to believe in me, just as I believed in John Wayne when I was a boy.”
Chuck Norris (1940–2026) first seen 1988 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Secret of Inner Strength : My Story (1988), written with Joe Hyams; quoted in "Chuck Norris, Black-Belt Action Star of Movies and Television, Dies at 86" by Clyde Haberman, The New York Times (20 March 2026)
“Spite is anger which is afraid to show itself, it is an impotent fury conscious of its impotence.”
Henri-Frédéric Amiel (1821–1881) first seen 1850 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 30 December 1850
“I'm afraid I'm being an awful nuisance.”
Edith Sitwell (1887–1964) said by 1964 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I am very satisfied with my invention. With this pocket, the rain can fall, and i'm not afraid: my beard will stay dry. You laugh, but you don't laugh when a woman, after washing her hair, dries it and wraps it in a towel. You are not laughing, and yet it is the same. Women drying their hair, and I guaranteeing my beard from the rain, we are only keeping us from colds!”
Leopold II of Belgium (1835–1909) said by 1909 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Cheap romance, it's all just a crutch. You don't want nothin' that anybody can touch. You're so afraid of being somebody's fool, Not walkin' tough baby, not walkin' cool. You walk cool, but darlin', can you walk the line? And face the ties that bind. The ties that bind, Now you can't break the ties that bind.”
Bruce Springsteen (born 1949) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When you find your path, you must not be afraid. You need to have sufficient courage to make mistakes. Disappointment, defeat, and despair are the tools God uses to show us the way.”
Paulo Coelho (born 1947) first seen 1990 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Brida (1990).
“At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives. But, as time passes a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their destiny.”
Paulo Coelho (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Pitiful is the person who is afraid of taking risks.”
Paulo Coelho (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Seek out people who aren’t afraid of making mistakes and who, therefore, do make mistakes. Because of that, their work often isn’t recognized, but they are precisely the kind of people who change the world and, after many mistakes, do something that will transform their own community completely”.”
Paulo Coelho (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We are afraid to change because we think that, after much effort and sacrifice, we know our present world. And even though that world might not be the best of all worlds and even though we may not be entirely satisfied with it, at least it won’t give us any nasty surprises. We won’t go wrong. When necessary, we will make a few minor adjustments so that everything continues the same.”
Paulo Coelho (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What's left is only bittersweet For the rest of my life, admitting the best is behind me Now I'm drunk and afraid Wishing the world would go away What's the point of singing songs If they'll never even hear you?”
Sufjan Stevens (born 1975) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“He could knock me down the stairs and I would have worked out the theology for forgiving him before I reached the bottom. But if he harmed you in the slightest way, I'm afraid theology would fail me.”
Marilynne Robinson (born 1943) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“So many faces in and out of my life Some will last Some will be just now and then. Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes I'm afraid it's time for goodbye again. Say goodbye to Hollywood Say goodbye my baby Say goodbye to Hollywood Say goodbye my baby.”
Billy Joel (born 1949) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It's alright if you love me, It's alright if you don't. I'm not afraid of you runnin' away, Honey I get the feeling you won't.”
Tom Petty (1950–2017) said by 2017 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Though I admire republican principles in theory, yet I am afraid the practice may be too perfect for human nature. We tried a republic last century, and it failed. Let our enemies try next. I hate political experiments.”
Horace Walpole (1717–1797) said by 1797 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When so markedly egotistic a nature dominates a realm, the consequences can be nothing but catastrophic; and we are heading straight for a period which will decide whether the age or the Emperor is the stronger. I am afraid it will not be he.”
Emil Ludwig (1881–1948) said by 1948 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Nature made us individuals, as she did the flowers and the pebbles; but we are afraid to be peculiar, and so our society resembles a bag of marbles, or a string of mold candles. Why should we all dress after the same fashion? The frost never paints my windows twice alike." letters from ny wqadd”
Lydia Maria Child (1802–1880) first seen 1843 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter 38 (March 17, 1843)
“We lavish on animals the love we are afraid to show to people. People might not return it; or worse, they might.”
Mignon McLaughlin (1913–1983) said by 1983 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“People afraid of criticism but I always put myself in a sacrificial position,they been know I ain't just rappin for fame”
Nas (born 1973) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Losing hope is easy When your only friend is gone And every time you look around Well, it all, it all just seems to change But hanging on is easy When you've got a friend to call When nothings making sense at all You're not the only one that's afraid of change”
Jack Johnson (musician) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Well I guess you could say That he don't even know where to begin Cause he looked both ways but he was so afraid Diggin' deeper through the ditch With every chance he missed And the mess he made Cause hate is such a strong word And every brick he laid A mistake they say That his walls are getting taller His world is getting smaller.”
Jack Johnson (musician) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“But there's no indemnity. You can't be afraid to do good in case evil results.”
Nadine Gordimer (1923–2014) said by 2014 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“As I look back on the flight I think two questions have been asked me most frequently. First: Was I afraid? Secondly: What did I wear?”
Amelia Earhart (1897–1939) first seen 1928 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 20 Hrs., 40 Min. (1928), p. 110
“The way I really think is more like this "I am a scientist. I think the way to the truth is by investigation. I suspect that telepathy, clairvoyance, psychokinesis and life after death do not exist because I have been looking in vain for them for 25 years. I have been wrong lots of times before and am not afraid of it".”
Susan Blackmore (born 1951) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The world once again finds itself faced with crazy temptations and crazy seductions. […] Be afraid of those who seduce you because seducers always deceive! p. 696”
Alexander Zinoviev (1922–2006) first seen 1991 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Perestroïka et contre-perestroïka, Alexandre Zinoviev (trad. Anne Coldefy-Foucard), éd. Olivier Orban, 1991
“I am afraid that as a nation we tend to over-organise. Abroad that passes for efficiency.”
John le Carré (1931–2020) said by 2020 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Because we are so unfamiliar with the motivation of the people we are dealing with, we are more afraid of them than we need to be.”
John le Carré (1931–2020) said by 2020 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The American people are sick and tired of being afraid to speak their minds lest they be politically smeared as "Communists" or "Fascists" by their opponents. Freedom of speech is not what it used to be in America. It has been so abused by some that it is not exercised by others. The American people are sick and tired of seeing innocent people smeared and guilty people whitewashed.”
Margaret Chase Smith (1897–1995) said by 1995 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Bonaparte's wish is Peace, nay that he is afraid of war to the last degree.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) first seen 1802 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Charles Grey (12 December 1802), quoted in L. G. Mitchell, Charles James Fox (1997), p. 201
“I am more afraid of King Alcohol than of all the bullets of the enemy.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) said by 1863 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Personal Reminiscences, Anecdotes, and Letters of Gen. Robert E. Lee (1874) by John William Jones, p. 171
“Men must make women afraid and compliant, including through beatings; women must be housebound and servile. The men, then, can attend orgies or engage in any other sexual activity.”
Andrea Dworkin (1946–2005) said by 2005 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When he was praised by some wicked men, he said, "I am sadly afraid that I must have done some wicked thing.”
Diogenes Laërtius wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Also quoted by: Tertullian
“The second generation Japanese can only be evacuated either as part of a total evacuation, giving access to the areas only by permits, or by frankly trying to put them out on the ground that their racial characteristics are such that we cannot understand or trust even the citizen Japanese. The latter is the fact but I am afraid it will make a tremendous hole in our constitutional system.”
Henry L. Stimson (1867–1950) first seen 1942 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Statement in his Diary on the WWII Internment of Japanese Americans (10 February 1942)
“You’re frightening me” “be frightened. Sometimes its very intelligent to be afraid”
Alice Borchardt (1939–2007) said by 2007 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I'm afraid of passing out in the pit.”
Bill Allred first seen 2007 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Radio From Hell (January 4, 2007)
“For the first few seconds, she was afraid he would throw her out because of the crude noises she was making, but then he put his arms around her. She was grateful to him for ignoring her rumbles, and she kissed him passionately, her eyes misting.”
Milan Kundera (1929–2023) said by 2023 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“He wasn’t afraid of dying, only of having not done all he could, and not properly spitting in the eye of death when it came for him. That final gesture was important.”
David Brin (born 1950) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“On this occasion, despite the wind and sparkling stars, they looked just like huge chunks of stone, pathetically chiseled by desperate folk to resemble stern gods. People did bizarre things when they were afraid...as most men and women had been for nearly all the time since the species evolved.”
David Brin (born 1950) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It's how creativity works. Especially in humans. For every good idea, ten thousand idiotic ones must first be posed, sifted, tried out, and discarded. A mind that's afraid to toy with the ridiculous will never come up with the brilliantly original.”
David Brin (born 1950) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A pretty little collection of weaknesses and a terror of spiders are our indispensable stock-in-trade with the men... nine men out of ten are superstitious, nineteen out of twenty believe in the evil eye, and ninety-eight out of a hundred are afraid of spiders. They forgive us — oh! for many things, but not for the absence in us of their own feelings.”
Colette (1873–1954) said by 1954 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source