Fear is a powerful emotion. It has the ability to paralyze or motivate. It’s a part of our shared human experience. This article will explore some of the most memorable quotes about fear.
These quotes have been spoken by great thinkers, writers, and leaders. Their words can inspire us to confront our own fears. Let’s dive into these timeless pieces of wisdom and see what they teach us about fear and courage.
Surprising Fear Quotes
“There is no illusion greater than fear.” – Lao Tzu
“Fear cuts deeper than swords.” – George R.R. Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire
“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear.” – Rosa Parks
“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Do not be afraid; our fate cannot be taken from us; it is a gift.” – Dante Alighieri, Inferno
“Fears are stories we tell ourselves.” – Erica Jong
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” – Yoda, Star Wars
“Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” – Francis Chan
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out.” – Benjamin Franklin
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” – Ambrose Redmoon
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.” – Frank Herbert, Dune
“Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.” – Japanese Proverb
“Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.” – Les Brown
“Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” – Jack Canfield
“The thing you fear most has no power. Your fear of it is what has the power.” – Oprah Winfrey
“Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.” – J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
“Fear does not stop death. It stops life.” – Naguib Mahfouz
“Don’t let the fear of striking out hold you back.” – Babe Ruth
“The enemy is fear. We think it is hate; but, it is fear.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“One of the greatest discoveries a man makes is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn’t do.” – Henry Ford
“Fear is the mind’s way of recognizing that something needs attention.” – Original
“He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.” – Pema Chodron
“Fear is the prison of the heart.” – Original
“Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.” – Maori Proverb
“I’ve learned that fear limits you and your vision. It serves as blinders to what may be just a few steps down the road for you.” – Soledad O’Brien
“Your fear is 100% dependent on you for its survival.” – Steve Maraboli
“Fear. Fear attracts the fearful. The strong. The weak. The innocent. The corrupt. Fear is my ally.” – Darth Maul, Star Wars
“To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself.” – Søren Kierkegaard
“Fear is what keeps you from stepping into the light and realizing your full potential.” – Original
“There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life.” – John Lennon
“Never let the fear of being misunderstood stop you from being yourself.” – Original
Wisdom-Laden Quotes on Fear
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.” – Frank Herbert, Dune
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” – Ambrose Redmoon
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” – Marianne Williamson
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” – Nelson Mandela
“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” – Joseph Campbell
“Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.” – Japanese Proverb
“Do one thing every day that scares you.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“In order to rise from its own ashes, a Phoenix first must burn.” – Octavia Butler
“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.” – Marcus Aurelius
“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” – John D. Rockefeller
“Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.” – Winston Churchill
“The fears we don’t face become our limits.” – Robin Sharma
“The enemy is fear. We think it is hate; but it is fear.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is.” – German Proverb
“Do not let your fears choose your destiny.” – Unknown
“Fear, to a great extent, is born of a story we tell ourselves.” – Cheryl Strayed
“Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power.” – Jim Morrison
“Don’t let your fear decide your future.” – Shalane Flanagan
“To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.” – Joseph Chilton Pearce
“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage.” – Dale Carnegie
“Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.” – Pema Chödrön
“There is no illusion greater than fear.” – Lao Tzu
“Named must your fear be before banish it you can.” – Yoda, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
“Fear not for the future, weep not for the past.” – Percy Bysshe Shelley
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” – Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
“Men go to far greater lengths to avoid what they fear than to obtain what they desire.” – Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” – Yoda, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.” – Frank Herbert, Dune
“Fear does not stop death. It stops life.” – Naguib Mahfouz
“Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” – Jack Canfield
“To escape fear, you have to go through it, not around.” – Richie Norton
Inspirational Fear-Related Quotes
“Do one thing every day that scares you.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” – Ambrose Redmoon
“Fear cuts deeper than swords.” – George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
“In order to rise from its own ashes, a phoenix first must burn.” – Octavia Butler
“There is no illusion greater than fear.” – Lao Tzu
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.” – Winston Churchill
“Fear has its use, but cowardice has none.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” – George Addair
“He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.” – Jim Morrison
“To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.” – Joseph Chilton Pearce
“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.” – Japanese Proverb
“Don’t let the fear of losing be greater than the excitement of winning.” – Robert Kiyosaki
“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear.” – Rosa Parks
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” – Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
“Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.” – Yoda, Star Wars
“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.” – Marcus Aurelius
“The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson Mandela
“Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.” – Pema Chödron
“You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.” – Rabindranath Tagore
“Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Do not be afraid; our fate cannot be taken from us; it is a gift.” – Dante Alighieri, Inferno
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.” – Frank Herbert, Dune
“Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.” – Roy T. Bennett
“Fear is not real. It is a product of thoughts you create. Do not misunderstand me. Danger is very real. But fear is a choice.” – Will Smith
“It’s not the absence of fear, it’s overcoming it. Sometimes you’ve got to blast through and have faith.” – Emma Watson
“The only way to get rid of the fear of doing something is to go out and do it.” – Susan Jeffers
“Fear makes strangers of people who would be friends.” – Shirley MacLaine
“Don’t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” – Babe Ruth
Powerful Quotes to Conquer Fear
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Do one thing every day that scares you.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.” – Frank Herbert, Dune
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” – Ambrose Redmoon
“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Fear cuts deeper than swords.” – George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
“Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” – Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
“The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson Mandela
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” – Marianne Williamson
“Do not be afraid; our fate cannot be taken from us; it is a gift.” – Dante Alighieri, Inferno
“Fear is stupid. So are regrets.” – Marilyn Monroe
“He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.” – Mark Twain
“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” – Louisa May Alcott
“Fear doesn’t shut you down; it wakes you up.” – Veronica Roth, Divergent
“Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.” – Winston Churchill
“To fear is one thing. To let fear grab you by the tail and swing you around is another.” – Katherine Paterson
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
“Scared is what you’re feeling. Brave is what you’re doing.” – Emma Donoghue, Room
“Facing fear is a necessary step to learning courage.” – Nicole Lyons
“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear.” – Rosa Parks
“Fear has its use but cowardice has none.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“Each of us must confront our own fears, must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives.” – Judy Blume
“We are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more from imagination than from reality.” – Seneca
“Fear is inevitable, but I accept it as a part of the journey to self-discovery.” – Angelina Jolie
“You can’t always control what goes on outside. But you can always control what goes on inside.” – Wayne Dyer
“Being brave isn’t the absence of fear. Being brave is having that fear but finding a way through it.” – Bear Grylls
“Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.” – Jim Rohn
“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.” – Marcus Aurelius
“Fear is temporary. Regret is forever.” – Anonymous
“No power so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.” – Edmund Burke
“The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one.” – Buddha
Fear and Courage: Complementary Quotes
“Do one thing every day that scares you.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live.” – Dorothy Thompson
“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.” – Mark Twain
“Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” – Jack Canfield
“Fears are educated into us, and can, if we wish, be educated out.” – Karl Augustus Menninger
“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“You must do the things you think you cannot do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” – Nelson Mandela
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” – John D. Rockefeller
“Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears.” – Rudyard Kipling
“Do not be afraid; our fate cannot be taken from us; it is a gift.” – Dante Alighieri
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” – Paulo Coelho
“He who is not every day conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.” – Japanese Proverb
“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” – Joseph Campbell
“Fear cuts deeper than swords.” – George R.R. Martin
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.” – Yoda, Star Wars
“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” – Anaïs Nin
“To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.” – Joseph Chilton Pearce
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius
“A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.” – John A. Shedd
“Feel the fear and do it anyway.” – Susan Jeffers
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.” – Ambrose Redmoon
“The only thing standing between you and your goal is the story you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it.” – Jordan Belfort
“Do not let your fears choose your destiny.” – Unknown
“Fear has two meanings: ‘Forget Everything And Run’ or ‘Face Everything And Rise.’ The choice is yours.” – Zig Ziglar
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.'” – Mary Anne Radmacher
“We should all start to live before we get too old. Fear is stupid. So are regrets.” – Marilyn Monroe
“You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Christopher Columbus
“A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Empowering Quotes to Challenge Fear
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” – Ambrose Redmoon
“Do one thing every day that scares you.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.” – Japanese Proverb
“Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.” – Winston Churchill
“There is no illusion greater than fear.” – Lao Tzu
“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Don’t let the fear of striking out hold you back.” – Babe Ruth
“The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson Mandela
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hate; hate leads to suffering.” – Yoda, Star Wars
“To escape fear, you have to go through it, not around.” – Richie Norton
“He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Fears are educated into us, and can, if we wish, be educated out.” – Karl Augustus Menninger
“Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” – George Addair
“Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.” – Frank Herbert, Dune
“Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.” – Napoleon Hill
“Fear: False Evidence Appearing Real.” – Unknown
“The enemy is fear. We think it is hate; but, it is fear.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“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
“Fear makes us feel our humanity.” – Benjamin Disraeli
“Do not be afraid; our fate cannot be taken from us; it is a gift.” – Dante Alighieri
“We are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more from imagination than from reality.” – Seneca
“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear.” – Rosa Parks
“Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.” – J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
“Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death.” – Omar N. Bradley
“Fear cuts deeper than swords.” – George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.” – Frank Herbert, Dune
“The key to change… is to let go of fear.” – Rosanne Cash
“If you want to conquer fear, don’t sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” – Dale Carnegie
“Fear has a large shadow, but he himself is small.” – Ruth Gendler
“Fear is a phoenix. You can watch it burn a thousand times and still it will return.” – Leigh Bardugo, Crooked Kingdom
“Fearless is not the absence of fear. It’s the mastery of fear. It’s about getting up one more time than we fall down.” – Arianna Huffington
Motivational Fear Quotes for Strength
“Do not be afraid of going slowly, be afraid only of standing still.” – Chinese Proverb
“Fear is temporary. Regret is forever.” – Unknown
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius
“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
“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.” – Mark Twain
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Don’t let your fear of what could happen make nothing happen.” – Doe Zantamata
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.” – Yoda, Star Wars
“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Fear doesn’t shut you down; it wakes you up.” – Veronica Roth
“Always do what you are afraid to do.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil.” – Aristotle
“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” – Louisa May Alcott
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” – Marianne Williamson
“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” – Joseph Campbell
“Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live.” – Dorothy Thompson
“Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.” – Winston Churchill
“He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death.” – Omar N. Bradley
“Fear is an illusion. It’s a product of the thoughts you create. Do not believe in them.” – Sanhita Baruah
“Fear cuts deeper than swords.” – George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
“Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it.” – Bill Cosby
“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
“You can’t always control what goes on outside, but you can always control what goes on inside.” – Wayne Dyer
“Fear? I know not fear, for fear has no place in anyone who strives for greatness.” – Original
“Feel the fear and do it anyway.” – Susan Jeffers
“Courage isn’t having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don’t have strength.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
“Fears are educated into us, and can, if we wish, be educated out.” – Karl A. Menninger
“we only regret the chances we didn’t take.” – Lewis Carroll
“Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.” – Japanese Proverb
“To escape fear, you have to go through it, not around.” – Richie Norton
“The best way out is always through.” – Robert Frost
Insightful Quotes on Overcoming Fear
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Do one thing every day that scares you.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.” – Ambrose Redmoon
“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.” – Japanese Proverb
“Do not be afraid; our fate cannot be taken from us; it is a gift.” – Dante Alighieri
“The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson Mandela
“You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.” – Eric Hoffer
“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” – Louisa May Alcott
“Fear cuts deeper than swords.” – George R.R. Martin
“Fear has its use but cowardice has none.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” – Paulo Coelho
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius
“He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Fear is often our immediate response to uncertainty. There’s nothing wrong with experiencing fear. They key is not to get stuck in it.” – Gabrielle Bernstein
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10
“Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.” – Yoda
“Scared is what you’re feeling. Brave is what you’re doing.” – Emma Donoghue
“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.” – Edmund Hillary
“Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” – George Addair
“Fears are educated into us, and can, if we wish, be educated out.” – Karl Augustus Menninger
“One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” – Babe Ruth
“Feel the fear and do it anyway.” – Susan Jeffers
“Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.” – Pema Chödrön
“Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears.” – Rudyard Kipling
“Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Let us not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless when facing them.” – Rabindranath Tagore
“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.” – Marcus Aurelius
“Fear is the enemy of logic.” – Frank Sinatra
“How very little can be done under the spirit of fear.” – Florence Nightingale
“Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.” – J.K. Rowling
“Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.” – Roy T. Bennett
“Fear is the prison of the heart, freedom its liberation.” – Anonymous
Conclusion
Wrapping up our list of the best fear quotes, it’s clear that everyone experiences fear in different ways. Yet, these quotes show that fear can also teach us important lessons. From famous leaders to beloved writers, many people have shared their thoughts on fear to help us better understand it.
Whether you’re feeling anxious about a big decision or simply need a bit of courage to face a challenge, these quotes offer wisdom and comfort. Think about these words the next time fear tries to hold you back. They might just give you the boost you need to move forward with confidence.