Quotes by famous people, credited to who said them. Your own quotes must not match any of these. More are added all the time. 1,161,747 quotes Who coined it · How we decide
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Fear
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“With mindfulness we have the choice of responding with compassion to the pain of craving, anger, fear and confusion. Without mindfulness we are stuck in the reactive pattern and identification that will inevitably create more suffering and confusion.”
Noah Levine (born 1971) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Difficult personalities are a mirror for the places where we get stuck in judgment, fear, and confusion.”
Noah Levine (born 1971) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I try so hard not to get upset Because I know all the trouble Ill get Oh, he tells me tears are something to hide And something to fear And I try so hard to keep it inside So no one can hear.”
Aimee Mann (born 1960) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If you drive an animal into a corner and torment it, you may expect that in it's fear and rage it will slash back at you.”
Kenneth Kaunda (1924–2021) said by 2021 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The American family will fear less, our national security will be more assured, and we won‘t let the Venezuelas or Nigerias or the Saudi Arabias or the Irans jerk us around by the gas nozzle the way they are doing it now.”
Larry Craig (born 1945) first seen 2008 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: July 18, 2008 YouTube video
“The defeatists should fear Allah lest they distort this religion and cause it to become weak on the basis of the claim that it is a religion of peace. Yes, it is the religion of peace but in the sense of saving all of mankind from worshiping anything other than Allah and submitting all of mankind to the rule of Allah.”
Sayyid Qutb (1906–1967) said by 1967 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“This was a new menace that threatened them, something that they couldn’t explain; and so, naturally, it aroused within them superstitious fear.”
Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875–1950) said by 1950 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Some men enjoy the constant strife Of days with work and worry rife, But that is not my dream of life: I think such men are crazy. For me, a life with worries few, A job of nothing much to do, Just pelf enough to see me through: I fear that I am lazy.”
James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) said by 1938 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There is torture of mind as well as body; the will is as much affected by fear as by force. And there comes a point where this Court should not be ignorant as judges of what we know as men.”
Felix Frankfurter (1882–1965) first seen 1949 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Watts v. Indiana, 338 U.S. 49, 52 (1949).
“Who sows fear, reaps weapons.”
Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921–1990) first seen 1977 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: About Tolerance (1977)
“The course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however, at removing the blocks to the awareness of love’s Presence, Which is your natural inheritance. The opposite of love is fear, but what is all encompassing can have no opposite.”
Helen Schucman (1909–1981) first seen 1976 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: A Course in Miracles, p. 1 (1976)
“Back to the glass in terror we came, And stared at the writing round the frame. We could not understand one word: And suddenly we thought we heard The hissing of the snakes again: How could we front them all alone? O, madly we clutched at the mirrored stone And wished we were back on the flowery plain: And swifter than thought and swift as fear The whole world flashed, and behold we were there.”
Alfred Noyes (1880–1958) said by 1958 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We have come by curious ways To the Light that holds the days; We have sought in haunts of fear For that all-enfolding sphere: And lo! it was not far, but near.We have found, O foolish-fond, The shore that has no shore beyond.Deep in every heart it lies With its untranscended skies; For what heaven should bend above Hearts that own the heaven of love?”
Alfred Noyes (1880–1958) said by 1958 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There are those who fear that if books get published according to some kind of identity-based quota system, literary excellence will suffer. What seems to be buried in the shallow grave of that concept is the assumption that there are no good writers in marginalized communities.”
Nalo Hopkinson (born 1960) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In civilized societies today … clitoris envy, or womb envy, takes subtle forms. Man's constant need to disparage woman, to humble her, to deny her equal rights, and to belittle her achievements — all are expressions of his innate envy and fear.”
Elizabeth Gould Davis (1910–1974) first seen 1971 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The First Sex, ch. 9 - The Sexual Revolution (1971).
“I am not clear that a discrimination will not render slavery more irksome to those who remain in it. Most of the good and evil things in this life are judged of by comparison; and I fear a comparison in this case will be productive of much discontent in those who are held in servitude.”
George Washington (1732–1799) first seen 1779 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Henry Laurens (20 March 1779)
“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
Jesus (6 BC–33) said by 33 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Have no fear, little flock, for your Father has approved of giving you the Kingdom.”
Jesus (6 BC–33) said by 33 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“People will become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
Jesus (6 BC–33) said by 33 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And having said this, Jesus smote his face with both his hands, and then smote the ground with his head. And having raised his head, he said: "Cursed be every one who shall insert into my sayings that I am the son of God." At these words the disciples fell down as dead, whereupon Jesus lifted them up, saying: 'Let us fear God now, if we would not be affrighted in that day.'”
Jesus (6 BC–33) said by 33 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Religion has nothing more to fear than not being sufficiently understood.”
Stanisław Leszczyński (1677–1766) said by 1766 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It is much worse to be dead when we are alive/ Dead by the fear of death, when we are not yet dead!/ The incredible paradox of worrying to avoid death / Being the very cause of death!”
Kuruvilla Pandikattu (born 1957) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We trust strangers with our every day lives, yet fear being vulnerable with those we love.”
Kuruvilla Pandikattu (born 1957) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A notable quotation is when Qasim asked his Uncle Hussain, if his name would be amongst the names of those who would be blessed with martyrdom in the battle for Islam at Karbala. His Uncle replied asking, "How do you find death Qasim? Qasim replied, Oh my Uncle; I do not fear death. Death for Islam will be sweeter for me than honey.”
Qasim ibn Hasan (667–680) said by 680 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It cannot be emphasized too strongly that playing can pull many a director and cast out of a tight spot, freeing all of them from the fear-producing trap of memorizing, characterizing and interpreting. This playing draws upon a very important, almost forgotten, little understood or utilized, and greatly maligned life-giving force --- passion!”
Viola Spolin (1906–1994) first seen 1988 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Theater Games for Rehearsal - A Director's Handbook(1988), Northwestern University Press, Preface
“But sociopaths don’t see other people as people. Something’s wrong with their wiring,” Nicole said. “They don’t have any empathy, and they don’t feel fear. So they don’t feel guilty when they kill. If anything, they feel powerful.”
“Without the safety of the flotation device, or the pool bottom beneath her feet, Makayla was suddenly drowning in fear.”
“Tommy locked his doors, armed his security system, replaced all the 9-volt batteries in his smoke detectors, made sure the gun in his dresser drawer was loaded, and went to bed where, before falling asleep, he recited a psalm from memory, with an emphasis on one line in particular: “yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me . . .”
“When I saw the plane, I was absolutely astonished! Two emotions crashed over me: surging joy and crazy fear.”
Abby Sunderland (born 1993) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I will not beg your forgiveness,” she said. Only her voice betrayed her fear; it was not its usual strong, clear tone. “I did what I felt was right.” “Of course you did,” I said. “It was the wise thing to do.”
N. K. Jemisin (born 1972) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If they will not love me, fear is an acceptable substitute.”
N. K. Jemisin (born 1972) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Fear was like poison to mortals; it killed their rationality.”
N. K. Jemisin (born 1972) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Weakness, misery, does not always elicit sympathy. Perhaps that is because the weakness reminds of what we we fear for ourselves. Or perhaps it reminds us of our own complicity in some broad crime, and more, our presumed helplessness for it to be any other way.”
Ta-Nehisi Coates (born 1975) first seen 2013 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Notes From the Blue Period, The Atlantic, (6 Oct 2013)
“‘Is the war coming to Eldacre, my lord?’ asked Ramus, as he settled into the chair. 'I fear it is. A more stupid and wasteful business there never was. Fields will not be planted, food will run low, tax revenues will dry up — save from the makers of swords and munitions.'”
David Gemmell (1948–2006) said by 2006 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Fear is like a fire in your belly. Controlled, it warms you and keeps you alive. Uncontrolled, it burns and destroys you.”
David Gemmell (1948–2006) said by 2006 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The onset of fear makes the simplest actions complex and difficult.”
David Gemmell (1948–2006) said by 2006 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“...the baresark loses all fear; his method is all-out attack, and invariably he takes his opponent with him even if he falls.”
David Gemmell (1948–2006) said by 2006 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Evil is never truly strong, for it is born of fear. Why did he fall so easily? Because he tested your strength and saw the possibility of death [...] had he possessed true courage, he would have fought back. Instead he froze — and died.”
David Gemmell (1948–2006) said by 2006 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Never let anger, or outrage, or fear affect you. That is easy advice to give, but hard to follow. Men will bait you, they will laugh at you, they will jeer. But it is just noise, Kiall. They will hurt the people you love. They will do anything to make you angry or emotional. But the only way you can make them suffer is to win. And to do that you must remain cool.”
David Gemmell (1948–2006) said by 2006 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There are many forms of cowardice, Chareos. One man can face a score of enemies with a sword, but not a sickness which paralyses him. Another can face death with a smile, yet fear the years of hardship and toil which are living. Are you a coward?”
David Gemmell (1948–2006) said by 2006 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It is not only spirits who punish the evil, the soul brings itself to judgment: and also it is not right for those who endure for ever to attain everything in a short time: and also, there is need of human virtue. If punishment followed instantly upon sin, men would act justly from fear and have no virtue.”
Sallustius (400–400) said by 400 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If we can just be brave enough to be each others mirror, we may finally recognize the face of conscious that we fear.”
Dawud Wharnsby (born 1972) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If he could read a line, just understand one sign. Close his mouth and hear the peace of hope and fear, if he could read a line. If he could keep in time.”
Dawud Wharnsby (born 1972) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“But when it rains, it rains on all our houses, we all get cold when it snows. When a storm rolls in, huddled up against our windows, we all feel the fear when a strong wind blows, While on this earth, we’re all of equal worth.”
Dawud Wharnsby (born 1972) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Fear is the root of all courage”
Vivian Stanshall (1943–1995) said by 1995 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“But it is better to be destroyed on strange frontiers than to live in a prison of ignorance and fear.”
Edmund Cooper (1926–1982) said by 1982 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There comes a time when a men desires to rise above fear.”
Edmund Cooper (1926–1982) said by 1982 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Language steps in where the angels of experience fear to tread.”
David Wood (philosopher) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.”
Jack Layton (1950–2011) first seen 2011 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: A letter to Canadians from the Honourable Jack Layton." 20 August 2011.
“I tell you loneliness is the thing to master. Courage and fear, love, death are only parts of it and can easily be ruled afterwards. If I make myself master my own loneliness there will be peace or safety: and perhaps these are the same.”
Martha Gellhorn (1908–1998) said by 1998 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Notebook entry, quoted in Gellhorn: A Twentieth Century Life (2003) by Caroline Moorehead, p. 88.