Famous quotes

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Fear

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“We are all afraid - for our confidence, for the future, for the world. That is the nature of the human imagination. Yet every man, every civilization, has gone forward because of its engagement with what it has set itself to do. The personal commitment of a man to his skill, the intellectual commitment and the emotional commitment working together as one, has made the Ascent of Man.”
Jacob Bronowski (1908–1974) first seen 1973 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Sourced to the book, The Ascent of Man (1973), BBC Books: London, Chapter 13: The Long Childhood, p. 330.
“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”
Audre Lorde (1934–1992) first seen 1980 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Cancer Journals (1980)
“What I most regretted were my silences. Of what had I ever been afraid? To question or to speak as I believed could have meant pain, or death. But we all hurt in so many different ways, all the time, and pain will either change or end. Death, on the other hand, is the final silence.”
Audre Lorde (1934–1992) said by 1992 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I think the Democratic Party could stand a liberal George Wallace—someone who's not afraid to stand up and offend people, someone who wouldn't pander but would say what the American people know in their gut is right.”
Joe Biden (born 1942) first seen 1975 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Philadelphia Enquirer (Oct. 12, 1975) Alana Goodman, Joe Biden once said Democrats needed ‘a liberal George Wallace’ (Feb. 7, 2019), Washington Examiner
“I’m afraid you're stuffed, Professor. Talking of which, have an olive.” “I do not want an olive, Miss Doland.” “More fool you, then,” Jane replied. “It's at times like these you need an olive in order to make sense of things.”
Tom Holt (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We cannot be afraid to look.” “But some things are best left unknown,” she said. “Nothing is best left unknown,” said Toroca. “Nothing.”
Robert J. Sawyer (born 1960) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If you are afraid of loneliness, do not marry.”
Anton Chekhov (1860–1904) said by 1904 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I became her lover. For a month anyway I was like a madman, conscious of nothing but rapture. To hold in one's arms a young and lovely body, with bliss to feel her warmth every time one waked up from sleep, and to remember that she was there--she, my Ariadne!-- ... I realised, as before, that Ariadne did not love me. But she wanted to be really in love, she was afraid of solitude”
Anton Chekhov (1860–1904) said by 1904 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The Colonel knew by experience that in women like his wife, Sofya Lvovna, after a little too much wine, turbulent gaiety was followed by hysterical laughter and then tears. He was afraid that when they got home, instead of being able to sleep, he would have to be administering compresses and drops.”
Anton Chekhov (1860–1904) said by 1904 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“After us they’ll fly in hot air balloons, coat styles will change, perhaps they’ll discover a sixth sense and cultivate it, but life will remain the same, a hard life full of secrets, but happy. And a thousand years from now man will still be sighing, “Oh! Life is so hard!” and will still, like now, be afraid of death and not want to die.”
Anton Chekhov (1860–1904) said by 1904 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Let us not be afraid to express the passionate concern everyone of us feels about present housing conditions. ... This is a problem which brooks no escape, no evasion. It is no use talking about a free market: the provision of decent housing for all is a clear and inescapable obligation of government.”
Harold Wilson (1916–1995) first seen 1964 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to a Labour rally in Wembley Pool (12 September 1964), quoted in The Times (14 September 1964), p. 6
“The condition of mankind is to be weary of what we do know, and afraid of what we do not.”
George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax (1633–1695) said by 1695 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Before seeing Truffaut's Small Change, I was afraid it was going to be one of those simple, natural films about childhood which I generally try to avoid — I'm just not good enough to go to them. But this series of sketches on the general theme of the resilience of children turns out to be that rarity — a poetic comedy that's really funny.”
Pauline Kael (1919–2001) first seen 1980 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Review of Small Change, from When The Lights Go Down (Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1980, ).
“Resolved, never to do anything which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.”
Jonathan Edwards (theologian) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Well, I was ten and very much afraid. In my kind world the dead were out of range And I could not forgive the sad or strange In beast or man.”
Richard Wilbur (1921–2017) said by 2017 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Often, when perplexed, I longed to be like the smiling, lazy, forgetful black boys in the noisy hotel locker rooms, with no torrential conflicts to resolve. Many times I grew weary of the secret burden I carried and longed to cast it down, either in action or in resignation. But I was not made to be a resigned man and I had only a limited choice of actions, and I was afraid of all of them.”
Richard Wright (1908–1960) said by 1960 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You tend to resent people you’re afraid of.”
Octavia Butler (1947–2006) said by 2006 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Don't get up. Just sit a while and think. Never be afraid to sit a while and think.”
Lorraine Hansberry (1930–1965) said by 1965 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Urban people, of course, are terribly scared nowadays. They may yearn for society, but it is risky to go around talking to strangers, for a lot of reasons, one being that people are so accustomed not to have many human contacts that they are afraid they may find out they really prefer life that way.”
Russell Baker (1925–2019) said by 2019 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Life was combat, and victory was not to the lazy, the timid, the slugabed, the drugstore cowboy, the libertine, the mushmouth afraid to tell people exactly what was on his mind whether people liked it or not.”
Russell Baker (1925–2019) said by 2019 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I call on the Libyan people, men and women, to go out into the squares and the streets in all the cities in their millions. … Go peacefully... be courageous, rise up, go to the streets, raise our green flags to the skies. … Don't be afraid of anyone. You are the people. You have right on your side. You are the rightful people of this land.”
Muammar Gaddafi (1942–2011) first seen 2011 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Audio message broadcast on the pro-Gaddafi Syrian Al Rai TV on 20 September 2011, as quoted in Libya conflict: Muammar Gaddafi urges mass protests, BBC World News, 6 October 2011
“And there is ev'n a happiness That makes the heart afraid!”
Thomas Hood (1799–1845) first seen 1827 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ode to Melancholy, st. 6 (1827).
“We have simply been too fearful to go into that place.” “You? Fearful?” I doubted this. “Do not mistake my arrogance for courage, my son. It is true that I am renowned for what I can do. But I am afraid of the unknown, as are most men, Gamesmen or pawns alike.”
Sheri S. Tepper (1929–2016) said by 2016 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Words? Not really. Mankind is a good word.” She set down her glass with a thump. “Or humankind. I’m afraid we’ve spent a lot of feminist energy on meaningless symbols rather than essential functions.”
Sheri S. Tepper (1929–2016) said by 2016 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There are many who are hypocrites although they think they are not, and there are many who are afraid of being hypocrites although they certainly are not. Which is the one and which is the other God knows, and none but He.”
Walter Hilton (1340–1396) said by 1396 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: A translated by Serenus Cressy (1659) in the Art and Book Company edition (1901)
“I am more afraid of an army of a hundred sheep led by a lion than an army of a hundred lions led by a sheep.”
Frederick Russell Burnham (1861–1947) first seen 1944 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Taking Chances (1944)
“I am more afraid of our own blunders than of the enemy's devices.”
Thucydides (461–395 BC) said by 395 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Now the only sure basis of an alliance is for each party to be equally afraid of the other...”
Thucydides (461–395 BC) said by 395 BC at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Well, life was tough, but at least I was able to live it out and I was able to face death and not be afraid. Well, now I'm ready to go to Heaven and be with Jesus, and...hey? Hey, what's this? Oh, God it feels like a man's DICK IN MY ASS! Oh, GOD!!! I'M DEAD!!! Oh, you mean life keeps on fucking you even after you're dead? Oh, it never ends! OH! OHHH!!!”
Sam Kinison (1953–1992) said by 1992 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“They say — people who ought to be ashamed of themselves do — that the consciousness of being well dressed imparts a blissfulness to the human heart that religion is powerless to bestow. I am afraid these cynical persons are sometimes correct.”
Jerome K. Jerome (1859–1927) said by 1927 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I’m not afraid,” Edith said. “God will watch over all of us. I know He’s on our side.” Everybody in every war since the world began was convinced God was on his side. Half the people in every war since the world began ended up being wrong.”
Harry Turtledove (born 1949) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Care for us and accept us - we are all human beings. We are normal. We have hands. We have feet. We can walk, we can talk, we have needs just like everyone else - don't be afraid of us - we are all the same!”
Nkosi Johnson (1989–2001) first seen 2000 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Closing lines of his address to the 13th International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa, in July 2000.
“Don't be afraid of us, we are all the same. You can't get AIDS if you touch, hug, kiss, hold hands with someone who is infected.”
Nkosi Johnson (1989–2001) said by 2001 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I hear sometimes of the necessity for creating an "international mind." I am afraid that my heart is too stubbornly local for me to follow that high thought...I am an impenitent patriot; like Gilbert's heroic figure, "I remain an Englishman." I do not want daily to become more and more like my neighbour, nor would it gratify my self-esteem if he became daily more like me.”
Stanley Baldwin (1867–1947) first seen 1935 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to the Peace Society (31 October 1935), quoted in This Torch of Freedom (1935), p. 332.
“As you know I have always been more afraid of a peace offer than of an air raid.”
Neville Chamberlain (1869–1940) first seen 1933 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Ida Chamberlain (8 October 1939), quoted in Maurice Cowling, The Impact of Hitler. British Politics and British Policy. 1933-1940 (1975), p. 355
“He who hopes to grow in spirit will have to transcend obedience and respect. He'll hold to some laws but he'll mostly violate both law and custom, and go beyond the established, inadequate norm. Sensual pleasures will have much to teach him. He won't be afraid of the destructive act: half the house will have to come down. This way he'll grow virtuously into wisdom.”
Constantine P. Cavafy (1863–1933) first seen 1903 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Growing in Spirit (1903)
“The way would be open for the soldiers, that is, if Chamberlain didn't pull another Munich. "I am only afraid that some Schweinehund (dirty dog) will make a proposal for mediation.”
William L. Shirer (1904–1993) said by 1993 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“From childhood I have been afraid of mummers. It always seemed an extra shadow without face or name had slipped among them...”
Anna Akhmatova (1889–1966) said by 1966 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I'm not your son, you're not my father We're just two grown men saying goodbye No need to forgive, no need to forget I know your mistakes and you know mine And while you're sleeping, I'll try to make you proud So, daddy, won't you just close your eyes? Don't be afraid, it's my turn To chase the monsters away.”
James Blunt (born 1974) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The first thing the average white Latin American player does when he comes to the States is associate with other whites. He doesn't want to be seen with Latin Negroes, even from his own country, because he's afraid people might think he's colored.”
Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1964 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in “Roberto Clementeː Pounder from Puerto Rico” by John Devaney, in Baseball Stars of 1964 (1964), edited by Ray Robinson, p. 150
“This is King James Version, which I use and I recommend everybody use if you speak English. I collect other versions of the Bible. I'm not afraid of them; but folks, there's been some very serious changes made in some of these other versions. Many have left out the blood in dozens of places; many have taken away the deity of Christ. Some serious changes. Many have taken out over 200 verses!”
Kent Hovind (born 1953) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“She said I was afraid of success, which may in fact be true, because I have a feeling that fufilling my potential would really cut into my sittin' around time.”
Maria Bamford (born 1970) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“My people are the Hill People. They are the men. I go into the Dead Places but I am not slain. I take the metal from the Dead Places but I am not blasted. I travel upon the god-roads and am not afraid.”
Stephen Vincent Benét (1898–1943) said by 1943 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I went north — I did not try to hide myself. When a god or a demon saw me, then I would die, but meanwhile I was no longer afraid. My hunger for knowledge burned in me — there was so much that I could not understand.”
Stephen Vincent Benét (1898–1943) said by 1943 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In order to rally people, governments need enemies. They want us to be afraid, to hate, so we will rally behind them. And if they do not have a real enemy, they will invent one in order to mobilize us.”
Thích Nhất Hạnh (1926–2022) first seen 1996 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in Engaged Buddhist Reader: Ten Years of Engaged Buddhist Publishing (1996) by Arnold Kotler, p. 106
“Milk and then just as it comes dear? I’m afraid the preserve’s full of stones; Beg pardon, I’m soiling the doileys With afternoon tea-cakes and scones.”
John Betjeman (1906–1984) said by 1984 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If people were always kind and obedient to those who are cruel and unjust; the wicked people would have it all their own way: they would never feel afraid, and so they would never alter, but would grow worse and worse. When we are struck at without a reason, we should strike back again very hard; I am sure we should — so hard as to teach the person who struck us never to do it again.”
Charlotte Brontë (1816–1855) said by 1855 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A man who knows neither how to travel nor how to keep a journal has put together this travel journal. But at the moment of signing he is suddenly afraid. So he casts the first stone. Here.”
Henri Michaux (1899–1984) first seen 1929 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Preface to Ecuador (1929)
“People are afraid of AI partly because we see ourselves as imperfect and dangerous. Hence, our creation of AI can also be imperfect and dangerous.”
Newton Lee wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Elon Musk is afraid that “if our intelligence is exceeded, it’s unlikely that we will remain in charge.” Perhaps humanity would be better off if humans were not in charge. Imagine a government being run by a supercomputer with superintelligence—effective, efficient, nonpartisan, nonracist, nonsexist, incorruptible, unbiased, resourceful, and available 24/7 to serve everyone of its citizens!”
Newton Lee wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source