--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great majority of the things we now…" description: "\"The great majority of the things we now make ourselves panicked about are self-created 'dangers' that exist almost entirely in our own imaginations.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02a/albert-ellis-3379_anxiety_the-great-majority-of-the-things-we-now_2955057.jpg" --- # The great majority of the things we now make ourselves… ![“The great majority of the things we now make ourselves panicked about are self-created 'dangers' that exist almost entirely in our own imaginations.” quote by Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02a/albert-ellis-3379_anxiety_the-great-majority-of-the-things-we-now_2955057.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02a/albert-ellis-3379_anxiety_the-great-majority-of-the-things-we-now_2955057.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02a/albert-ellis-3379_anxiety_the-great-majority-of-the-things-we-now_2955057.jpg) > “The great majority of the things we now make ourselves panicked about are self-created 'dangers' that exist almost entirely in our own imaginations.” [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Many modern anxieties are self‑generated, existing mostly in our imagination rather than reality. **In simple terms:** Our fears are often imagined, not real. Key Takeaway Question and reframe imagined dangers. Themes psychology anxiety perception self‑awareness Mood reflective calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal decisions - public policy - media consumption Key Concepts Cognitive distortion fear conditioning Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate real risk from imagined? - What strategies reduce self‑created anxiety? A Different Perspective Overcoming imagined threats can be challenging without evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [“Good God, how much reverence can you have for a Supreme Being who finds it necessary to include tooth decay in His divine system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/good-god-how-much-reverence-can-you-have-for-a-supreme-being-who/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [The dangers that exist are real, but only illustrate the fact that men and women need Christ. The suffering and dying of missionaries advance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sills/the-dangers-that-exist-are-real-but-only-illustrate-the-fact-that-men/) [David Sills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sills/) > [Radicalism and extremism, while they are dangers, they exist in every society on some level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/radicalism-and-extremism-while-they-are-dangers-they-exist-in-every/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [“I woke to a nibble on the shell of my ear. What the… Last night. Last night. Oh my God. Did I? Panicked, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vi-keeland/i-woke-to-a-nibble-on-the-shell-of-my-ear-what-the-last-night-last/) [Vi Keeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vi-keeland/) > [“What?" The dread in her tone told Rob she knew what. "How much longer?" "Thirty seconds." She laughed with a panicked urgency. "I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-mcintosh/what-the-dread-in-her-tone-told-rob-she-knew-what-how-much-longer/) [Will McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-mcintosh/) > [It was the first honest emotional connection I'd had in a while. So I immediately panicked and had to leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/it-was-the-first-honest-emotional-connection-i-d-had-in-a-while-so-i/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [Panic was the worst thing. When you panicked, you couldn't see possibilities. Then came despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/panic-was-the-worst-thing-when-you-panicked-you-couldn-t-see/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [If you have a screaming angry director, everyone else will be panicked as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-cranston/if-you-have-a-screaming-angry-director-everyone-else-will-be-panicked/) [Bryan Cranston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-cranston/) > [When I was younger and did a stand-up gig, it would take me two weeks to recover. Sometimes I'd get so panicked that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sandler/when-i-was-younger-and-did-a-stand-up-gig-it-would-take-me-two-weeks/) [Adam Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sandler/) > [When he laces his fingers through mine, my heart does its now familiar panicked flight, bumping painfully against my ribs. My shoulder twitches as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-he-laces-his-fingers-through-mine-my-heart-does-its-now-familiar/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I’m sorry, Abby. I panicked.” I shook my head. “I’m just glad you’re okay.” “Me? I would have been better off dead if Travis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-m-sorry-abby-i-panicked-i-shook-my-head-i-m-just-glad-you-re-okay/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“The ride is nearly at an end, the operator is helping the people below us off and then it’s our turn, and Travis breathes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-harper/the-ride-is-nearly-at-an-end-the-operator-is-helping-the-people-below/) [Emily Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-harper/) > [“I can guess what you think about her, and I’d probably be thinking the same thing if I was standing where you are. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/i-can-guess-what-you-think-about-her-and-i-d-probably-be-thinking-the/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) > [I always have an idea before we even start the movie because if you hire the wrong person, within a couple of days you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/i-always-have-an-idea-before-we-even-start-the-movie-because-if-you/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [In 2011, I announced that I was going to retire, and my agent panicked. So she says: 'No, no, no. You have to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/in-2011-i-announced-that-i-was-going-to-retire-and-my-agent-panicked/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) ## More by Albert Ellis > [The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-best-years-of-your-life-are-the-ones-in-which-you-decide-your/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [“REBT’s Insight No. 1 holds that you have both healthy and unhealthy emotions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/rebt-s-insight-no-1-holds-that-you-have-both-healthy-and-unhealthy/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Failure doesn't have anything to do with your intrinsic value as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/failure-doesn-t-have-anything-to-do-with-your-intrinsic-value-as-a/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [So I'd better stop my whining and help myself cope better with even the worst Adversities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/so-i-d-better-stop-my-whining-and-help-myself-cope-better-with-even/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I'm one of the best-loved psychologists in the United States, but I'm also probably the most hated one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-m-one-of-the-best-loved-psychologists-in-the-united-states-but-i-m/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I thought foolishly that Freudian psychoanalysis was deeper and more intensive than other, more directive forms of therapy, so I was trained in it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-thought-foolishly-that-freudian-psychoanalysis-was-deeper-and-more/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I'm very happy. I like my work and I like the various aspects of it - going around the world, teaching the gospel according…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-m-very-happy-i-like-my-work-and-i-like-the-various-aspects-of-it/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Let's suppose somebody abused you sexually. You still had a choice, though not a good one, about what to tell yourself about the abuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/let-s-suppose-somebody-abused-you-sexually-you-still-had-a-choice/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [People don't just get upset. They contribute to their upsetness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/people-don-t-just-get-upset-they-contribute-to-their-upsetness/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [“The concept of deservingness for one’s “sins” implies that certain acts are unquestionably under all conditions “sinful.” And this is impossible to prove.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-concept-of-deservingness-for-one-s-sins-implies-that-certain-acts/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [The art of love is largely the art of persistence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-art-of-love-is-largely-the-art-of-persistence/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I teach people to be flexible, scientific and logical in their thinking and therefore to be less prone to brainwashing by the therapist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-teach-people-to-be-flexible-scientific-and-logical-in-their/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [For that again, is what all manner of religion essentially is: childish dependency. If something is irrational, that means it won't work. It's usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/for-that-again-is-what-all-manner-of-religion-essentially-is-childish/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Thinking rationally is often different from "positive thinking," in that it is a realistic assessment of the situation, with a view towards rectifying the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/thinking-rationally-is-often-different-from-positive-thinking-in-that/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [People are terrified of other people or difficult projects because they tell themselves that they could fail or be rejected. Failure can lead to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/people-are-terrified-of-other-people-or-difficult-projects-because/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) [Explore all 132 Albert Ellis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The great majority of the things we now make ourselves panicked about are self-created 'dangers' that exist almost entirely in our own imaginations.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Albert Ellis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-great-majority-of-the-things-we-now-make-ourselves-panicked-about/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxiety" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-great-majority-of-the-things-we-now-make-ourselves-panicked-about/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02a/albert-ellis-3379_anxiety_the-great-majority-of-the-things-we-now_2955057.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02a/albert-ellis-3379_anxiety_the-great-majority-of-the-things-we-now_2955057.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02a/albert-ellis-3379_anxiety_the-great-majority-of-the-things-we-now_2955057.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The great majority of the things we now make ourselves panicked about are self-created 'dangers' that exist…” — Albert Ellis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Albert Ellis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The great majority of the things...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-great-majority-of-the-things-we-now-make-ourselves-panicked-about/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-great-majority-of-the-things-we-now-make-ourselves-panicked-about/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```