Let the fear of a danger be a spur to prevent it; he that…
“Let the fear of a danger be a spur to prevent it; he that fears not gives advantage to the danger; it is less folly not to endeavor the prevention of the evil thou fearest than to fear the evil which thy endeavor cannot prevent.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Fear should motivate preventive action rather than passive dread; acting against danger is wiser than fearing it.
In simple terms: Use fear to act, not just worry.
Turn anxiety into proactive safety measures.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal safety
- public health policy
- risk‑averse decision making
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What dangers can you prevent today?
- When does caution become paralysis?
Overcominging may be irrational; action can be costly.