116 Quotes about Fear in 12 Categories
Jacqueline Eisenbraun
(Senior Editor)
Are you looking for quotes that deal with the topic of fear? Here you will find 116 quotes about fear across different categories, as well as interesting facts about the terminology and symptoms.
Everybody is scared of something. Even as children, we were afraid of monsters under our beds or in the closet. When we are scared, we often act irrationally and react rashly or even in a panic.
Fear is a very naturally emotion that has contributed to the survival of mankind over the course of our evolution.
Quotes about Fear and Faith
Quotes about Fear and Faith
Below we have gathered a collection of quotes that revolve around the topic of fear, anxiety and panic. Take your pick of quotes across the 12 different categories. Whether you’re looking for short quotes, words of wisdom or quotes from the Bible – you will find what you’re looking for here.
Here you will find quotes about hope.
Quotes on Overcoming Fear
Quotes on Overcoming Fear
The quotes listed below deal with fighting off fear. They illustrate how you can overcome your anxiety. You can use them to show your support for your loved ones in their fight against fear.
- The painful feeling of fear can only be suppressed by willpower.
(Joseph Stanislaus Zauper, German educator, 1783-1850) - When you let fear win, you lose perspective.
(Unknown) - Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. There was no one there.
(Chinese proverb) - Man’s fear of reality lead him to find three ways out: drunkenness, love and work.
(Jules and Edmond de Goncourt, French social novelists, 1830-1870/1822-1896) - Courage is not being free from fear, but overcoming it.
(German proverb) - One may fear everything except for that for which he fights.
(Bettina von Arnim, German writer, 1785-1859) - You can only go halfway into the darkest forest before you begin to come out the other side.
(Chinese proverb) - Fear comes from uncertainty. When we are absolutely certain, whether of our worth or worthlessness, we are almost impervious to fear.
(William Congreve, English playwright and poet, 1670-1729)
Are you looking for more beautiful quotes about life? Here you’ll find them.
Faith Over Fear Quotes
Faith Over Fear Quotes
One of the best ways to overcome your fears is to redirect that energy towards your faith. If you are a spiritual person, focussing your energy on your faith can provide you with strength and encouragement in times of fear.
The quotes below will build you up and remind you to trust that there is nothing to fear or worry.
- The chains of love are stronger than the chains of fear.
(William Gurnall, English author, 1616-1679) - Only he who can say, “The Lord is the strength of my life” can say, “Of whom shall I be afraid?”
(Alexander McLaren, Scottish Baptist minister, 1826-1910) - How very little can be done under the spirit of fear.
(Florence Nightingale, English activist, 1820-1910) - If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?
(Confucius, Chinese philosopher, 551 B.C.-479 B.C.) - I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
(William Allen White, American journalist, 1868-1944) - Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.
(Marie Curie, Polish scientist, 1867-1934) - Fear is born of Satan, and if we would only take time to think a moment, we would see that everything Satan says is founded upon a falsehood.
(A. B. Simpson, Canadian theologian, 1843-1919) - How sweet the name of Jesus sounds, In a believer’s ear! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, And drives away his fear.
(John Newton, English slave trader, 1725-1807) - The Lord was pleased to strengthen us, and remove all fear from us, and disposed of our hearts to be as useful as possible.
(Richard Allen, American clergyman, 1760-1831) - He who has overcome his fears will truly be free.
(Aristotle, Greek philosopher, 384-322 B.C.) - Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.
(Japanese proverb) - One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn’t do.
(Henry Ford, American businessman, 1863-1947)
Here you’ll find more encouraging quotes.
Bible Verses about Fear and Worry
Bible Verses about Fear and Worry
Many passages in the Bible encourage followers of Jesus to abandon their fear in favor of faith. If you practice Christianity and are in need of some encouragement to leave your fear behind, the following Bible quotes will offer you some inspiration.
- For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
(2 Timothy 1:7) - You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you.
(Deuteronomy 3:22) - I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
(Psalm 34:4-8) - Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
(Proverbs 29:25) - The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?
(Psalms 27:1) - Perfect love casts out fear.
(1 John 4:18) - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not our hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
(Luke 14:27) - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord will be with you wherever you go.
(Joshua 1:9) - When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise- in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
(Psalm 56:3-4) - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
(Psalm 23:4) - Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed; I am your God. I will strengthen you, and help you, and uphold you with my right hand of justice.
(Isaiah 41:10) - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
(Hebrews 11:1)
“Have no Fear”: Encouraging Quotes about Fear
“Have no Fear”: Encouraging Quotes about Fear
The encouraging quotes listed below serve as “have no fear” sayings. They should console you and encourage you to face your fears. If you want to offer someone newfound courage and strength, send one of the quotes from this category to someone close to you.
- Don’t be afraid of death, maybe death is afraid of you.
(Unknown) - I am never afraid of what I know.
(Anna Sewell, British writer, 1820-1878) - Don’t be afraid of sadness, it is the breath of joy!
(Unknown) - Fear is more painful to cowardice than death to true courage.
(Sir Philip Sidney, English poet, 1554-1586) - Do not be afraid of your imagination: “No bird soars too high, if he soars with his own wings.”
(William Blake, English poet, 1757-1827) - Let nothing disturb you, nothing frighten you, all things are passing.
(Saint Teresa of Avila, Spanish mystic, 1515-1582) - Endured with mortal fear in my heart; the only true courage.
(Theodor Fontane, German writer, 1819-1898) - Fear and courage are infectious.
(Jean Paul, German writer, 1763-1825) - Fear not that thy life shall come to an end, but rather that it shall never have a beginning.
(John Henry Newman, British clergyman, 1801-1890) - Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you. He who possesses God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.
(Teresa of Ávila)
Here you’ll find more motivational quotes.
Quotes about Fear of Failure
Quotes about Fear of Failure
Many people let their fear of failure prevent them from taking the leap and following their hearts. The best way to overcome this fear is to work on your self-confidence and believe in yourself.
The quotes below will inspire you to do just that. Have a read and see which ones stick with you.
- Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out.
(Benjamin Franklin, American politician, 1706-1790) - One who fears failure limits his activities.
(Henry Ford, American businessman, 1863-1947) - The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.
(Elbert Hubbard, American writer, 1856-1915) - Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure.
(George Edward Woodberry, American literary critic, 1855-1930) - What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?
(Vincent van Gogh, Dutch painter and graphic artist, 1853-1890) - It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.
(Theodore Roosevelt, American president, 1858-1919) - Experience teaches slowly, and at the cost of mistakes.
(James A. Froude, English historian, 1818-1894) - A person who doubt himself is like a man who would enlist in the ranks of his enemies and bear arms against himself. He makes his failure certain by himself being the first person to be convinced of it.
(Ambrose Bierce, American short story writer, 1842-1914) - Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
(Confucius, Chinese philosopher, 551 B.C.-479 B.C.) - One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.
(André Gide, French writer, 1869-1951) - Take risks: if you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise.
(Unknown) - My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.
(Abraham Lincoln, American president, 1809-1865)
Fear and Illness Quotes
Fear and Illness Quotes
In this category, you will find quotes about fear in the context of illness. These quotes deal with the feeling of hopelessness that fear can cause. The sayings also address the connection between fear and illness.
- Fear of suffering is worse than suffering itself.
(German proverb) - Fear increases our suffering, just as covetousness increases our joys.
(Charles de Secondat, French writer, 1689-1755) - Fear is a serious illness that also opens the door to other illnesses.
(Unknown) - Timidity is a fault for which it is dangerous to reprove persons whom we wish to correct of it.
(François de La Rochefoucauld, French author, 1613-1680) - Disease is an experience of a so-called mortal mind. It is fear made manifest on the body.
(Mary Baker-Eddy, American author, 1821-1910) - The nature exhausted by pain weakens the feelings in the patient, inhibits the mobility of the spirit. It happens that those who feared death when they were healthy die fearlessly.
(Luc de Clapiers, French philosopher, 1715-1747) - Despair: fear with hope.
(René Descartes, French philosopher & founder of rationalism, 1596-1650) - If you were a tear in my eye, I would never cry, out of fear of losing you.
(Unknown) - Fear is the most contagious disease!
(Lily Braun, German writer, 1865-1916)
Quotes about Living in Fear to Think about
Quotes about Living in Fear to Think about
This category contains quotes about fear to inspire you to reflect. Not all of these expressions are clear at first glance, and many of the quotes are ambiguous and can have multiple layers of interpretation.
- Many things happen in fear,
Which otherwise did not happen at all.
(Wilhelm Busch, German poet, 1832-1908) - Anxiety is more egotistical than courage, because it is needier.
(Jean Paul, German writer, 1763-1825) - The basis of optimism is sheer terror.
(Oscar Wilde, Irish poet, 1854-1900) - Fear not, provided you fear; but if you fear not, then fear.
(Blaise Pascal, French mathematician, 1623-1662) - He who shows no great fear, will meet no great sympathy.
(Genghis Khan, founder of the Mongol Empire, 1162-1227) - We know that fear is seldom constructive – but who is without it!
(Unknown) - Fear is misfortune, so courage is not fortune but fearlessness.
(Franz Kafka, German-language writer, 1883-1924) - Fear is more unbearable than pain; fear sharpens emotions, while pain dulls them.
(Elisabeth zu Wied, German writer, 1843-1916) - He that but fears the thing he would not know
Hath by instinct knowledge from others' eyes
That what he fear’d is chanced.
(William Shakespeare, English playwright, 1564-1616)
Wisdom about Fear
Wisdom about Fear
Here you will find words of wisdom about fear. The following quotes contain words of advice surrounding your own fears and apprehensions, as well as rules of thumb and proverbs.
- Fear is the only certain advisor that life definitely has.
(August Lafontaine, German writer, 1758-1831) - It is said that our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.
(Charles Haddon Spurgeon, English baptist preacher, 1834-1892) - Everything that happens in fear or worry also bears the mark of it.
(Frederick the Great, King of prussia, 1712-1786) - Fearfully observing danger tends to be the best way – to fall in.
(Jean De La Fontaine, French writer, 1621-1695) - Better to fear than to frighten.
(Hungarian proverb) - Where there is no fear, nor is there improvement.
(Tertullian, Tunisian writer, 160-220) - Always do what you are afraid to do.
(Ralph Waldo Emerson, American philosopher, 1803-1882) - He who threatens is afraid.
(French proverb) - The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.
(H. P. Lovecraft, American writer, 1890-1937)
Here you’ll find more smart quotes from famous writers.
Characteristic Quotes about Fear
Characteristic Quotes about Fear
Here you will find characteristic quotes about fear. On the surface, they deal with fear of being harmed. They address the panic that exists and flares up, even when the knowledge parables that the fear can be overcome.
- Of all the passions, fear weakens judgment most.
(Jean Francois Paul de Gondi, French politician, 1613-1679) - Fear is but another name for lack of power to control our minds, or, in other words, to control the kind of thought we think or put out.
(Prentice Mulford, US journalist, 1836-1891) - I only fear what I respect.
(Marie-Henri Beyle, French writer, 1783-1842) - Fear of death is fear of death, even if you stay alive.
(Theodor Fontane, German writer, 1819-1898) - Fear is an uneasiness of the mind, upon the thought of future evil likely to befall us.
(John Locke, English philosopher and politician, 1632-1704) - Thou hast not half that power to do me harm, as I have to be hurt.
(William Shakespeare, English playwright, 1564-1616) - Aversion with an opinion of hurt from the object is called fear.
(Thomas Hobbes, English philosopher, 1588-1679)
Short Quotes about Fear
Short Quotes about Fear
In this category, you will find short quotes about the topic of fear and anxiety. These quotes mainly refer to what fear is and what the worst kind of anxiety is. Short sayings like these are easy to internalize and are very direct in getting their message across.
- Great fear is linked to power.
(Mechthild von Magdeburg, Christian mystic, 1207-1282) - The less there is of fear, the less there is of danger.
(Titus Livius, Roman historian, c. 59 B.C.-17 A.D.) - Fear quickens hurrying feet.
(Friedrich Schiller, German dramatist, 1759-1805) - Fear is man’s curse.
(Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Russian novelist, 1821-1881) - Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom.
(Søren Kierkegaard, Danish philosopher, theologian and writer, 1813-1855) - The worst of all fears is the fear of living.
(Theodore Roosevelt, American president, 1858-1919) - To fear the worst oft cures the worse.
(William Shakespeare, English playwright, 1564-1616) - It is foolish to fear what you cannot avoid.
(Publilius Syrus, Roman moralist and aphorist, 90-40 B.C.) - You can’t fight if your trousers are fuller than your heart.
(Carl von Ossietzky, German journalist, 1889-1938)
Beautiful Quotes about Fear
Beautiful Quotes about Fear
Here you will find quotes about fear that are beautiful in a certain way. In terms of content, they discuss the faith in being able to face your fears and to grow enough to be become aware of your own fears and to gain perspective.
- Notwithstanding that the root of fear is lack of knowledge, it is not thought worthwhile to have knowledge in order to lose fear.
(Decimus Laberius, Roman eques and writer, 105-43 B.C.) - Our life loses its speed when we do not from time to time encounter situations where we must strain all our energies in order to face them with honor; where, as though in a critical game, we are seized by a benevolent fear, that is not oppressing, but thrilling.
(Heribert Rau, German free religious pastor, 1813-1876) - Fear is as healthy for the soul as a bath is for the body.
(Maxim Gorky, Russian writer, 1868-1936) - You will understand that certain things should be feared less because they cause a lot of fear.
(Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Roman philosopher, c. 4 B.C.-65 A.D.) - Incidentally, what is characteristic of panicked terror is that it is not clearly aware of its reasons, but rather assumes them more than knows them, indeed, if necessary, actually asserts fear itself as the reason for fear.
(Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher, 1788-1860) - The noble, however, are afraid for others, the common for themselves.
(Paul Ernst, German writer, 1866-1933) - There are many things that, from afar, seem frightening, unbearable, monstrous. When you approach them, they become human, bearable, familiar. So it can be said that fear of evil is greater than evil itself.
(Niccolò Machiavelli, Italian author and philosopher, 1469-1527)
Sayings about Fear and Love
Sayings about Fear and Love
This chapter contains sayings about the dynamic between love and fear. The following quotes illustrate the influence love can have on your fears and to what extent your love can be affected by fear caused by uncertainty.
- It is love and fear that rule the world; love attracts, fear repels.
(Albert Bitzius, Swiss writer, 1797-1854) - He who has not enveloped himself with love has needlessly surrounded himself with fear.
(Pliny the Younger, Roman lawyer, 62-113) - Doubt is not the absence of love, but the presence of fear.
(Unknown) - Love is an eternal child. It blurs the memory of the beginning and takes the fear from the end.
(Madame de Staël, French woman of letters and political theorist, 1766-1817) - […] we are created to love. All of life’s pleasures are for those who love. Be happy and without fear.
(Omar Khayyam, Persian mathematician, 1048-1131) - The more sacred the love, the bigger the fear, And the richer the consolation, the more constant the anxiety.
(Mechthild von Magdeburg, Christian mystic, 1207-1282) - Love is humanity’s illusory weapon against its ubiquitous fear of loneliness.
(Unknown) - Love destroys all evil and frees you from all fear.
(Hildegard von Bingen, German poet and polymath, 1098-1179) - More love of the good than fear of the evil!
(Francis de Sales, former Bishop of Geneva, saint in the Catholic Church, 1567-1622) - For most people, the love of justice is simply the fear of suffering injustice.
(François de La Rochefoucauld, French author, 1613-1680) - Fear grows from our love. But love is also the only power with which we can finally defeat fear by learning to expect everything that comes our way with love, that is, with faith.
(Friedrich Kayssler, German actor, 1874-1945) - Every fear is born of loving something.
(Thomas Aquinas, Italian theologian, 1225-1274)
Things to Know about Fears
Things to Know about Fears
Below, we will offer you some interesting facts about the topic of fear and anxiety. Along with the definition of the term, you will also find triggers and factors that contribute to contemporary fear in society.
What’s more, you will learn why fear is actually a sensible response.
Definition of “Fear”
The term “fear” is defined as the underlying feeling that occurs in situations where you feel threatened. Your fear then expresses itself in the form of anxiety or unease.
You can differentiate between situational fear – which is the emotion that occurs when danger is imminent – and anxiousness as a character trait. You can further differentiate between concrete fear and so-called fear of the unknown.
The former refers to fear of a particular thing, while the latter relates to suffering caused by disorientation, uncertainty and insecurity. As such, fear of the unknown has multiple simultaneous triggers.
If a fear response occurs without adequate triggers in the form of real threats, then you are looking at an anxiety disorder,
If it is specifically directed towards a particular factor, a singular object or a situation, then we are dealing with a phobia.
Triggers and Factors of Fear
Triggers and Factors of Fear
Life in today’s society offers plenty of reasons for an increase in fears. Anxiety about the future is higher than ever, thanks to wars, climate change, inflation and pandemics.
People’s fears manifest as, among other things, radicalization and illnesses. Fear triggers are mostly unanticipated threats to our physical or mental integrity.
Social-structural and cultural influences are considered social factors of fear. Social-structural concepts assume the primary cause of fear to be social power deficiencies, while the focus of cultural theories is social norms surrounding feelings. Meaning, they address how emotions are expressed and felt.
Function and Symptoms
Function and Symptoms
Throughout the history of evolution, fear has served as a defense mechanism that ensured human survival. In frightening situations, your senses are heightened and your bodily strength is maximized so that you are capable of adjusting your behavior to each dangerous situation.
Fear prepares you for a fight-or-flight situation, and your body reacts with the typical symptoms. Your pupils dilate, you become more aware and your muscles are on alert.
Your breathing becomes more shallow and more rapid, blood pressure and heart rate are increased, and your bladder and digestive functions are inhibited. Hot or cold spells are often also experienced.
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