--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because we are afraid of life, we seek to…" description: "\"Because we are afraid of life, we seek to control or master it.\" — Alexander Lowen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/alexander-lowen-11650_afraid_because-we-are-afraid-of-life-we-seek-to_2618839.jpg" --- # Because we are afraid of life, we seek to control or… ![“Because we are afraid of life, we seek to control or master it.” quote by Alexander Lowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/alexander-lowen-11650_afraid_because-we-are-afraid-of-life-we-seek-to_2618839.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/alexander-lowen-11650_afraid_because-we-are-afraid-of-life-we-seek-to_2618839.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/alexander-lowen-11650_afraid_because-we-are-afraid-of-life-we-seek-to_2618839.jpg) > “Because we are afraid of life, we seek to control or master it.” [Alexander Lowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear of life drives people to dominate it, seeking control to avoid vulnerability. **In simple terms:** Fear makes us try to control life. Key Takeaway Recognize and accept life's uncertainty. Themes fear control vulnerability Mood anxious thoughtful Type self-help philosophical When to use this quote - therapy sessions - leadership decisions - personal growth Key Concepts psychology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What areas of your life do you try to control? - How might letting go improve wellbeing? A Different Perspective Control attempts can create anxiety and limit freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-of-life/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [“Life is a movement, a constant movement in relationship; and thought, trying to capture that movement in terms of the past, as memory, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/life-is-a-movement-a-constant-movement-in-relationship-and-thought/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There can be no life without change, and to be afraid of what is different or unfamiliar is to be afraid of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-life-without-change-and-to-be-afraid-of-what-is/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [She teach me how to live, she aint afraid of life. Not easily impressed with the rich and famous life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/she-teach-me-how-to-live-she-aint-afraid-of-life-not-easily-impressed/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [“do you drink because you are afraid of life? the interviewer asked. disgusted with life is more like it, said the writer, and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/do-you-drink-because-you-are-afraid-of-life-the-interviewer-asked/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Dear friends, don't be afraid of life! How good is life when one does something good and just!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/dear-friends-don-t-be-afraid-of-life-how-good-is-life-when-one-does/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [Having a baby is part of a woman's life, and it is surely a great waste to be afraid of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-lowery-nixon/having-a-baby-is-part-of-a-woman-s-life-and-it-is-surely-a-great/) [Joan Lowery Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-lowery-nixon/) > [Death is close enough at hand so we do not need to be afraid of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/death-is-close-enough-at-hand-so-we-do-not-need-to-be-afraid-of-life/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Strange. Half my years afraid of life. The other half, afraid of death. Always some kind of afraid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/strange-half-my-years-afraid-of-life-the-other-half-afraid-of-death/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Dont be afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/dont-be-afraid-of-life-believe-that-life-is-worth-living-and-your/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [“But will somebody please tell me what's a person to do when they're too afraid of life to live and too afraid of death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-greene/but-will-somebody-please-tell-me-what-s-a-person-to-do-when-they-re/) [Bette Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-greene/) > [Once you are afraid of death you are bound to be afraid of life. That's why I am talking about this Hasidic approach. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-you-are-afraid-of-death-you-are-bound-to-be-afraid-of-life-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Our fear is free-floating. We’re afraid this isn’t the right relationship or we’re afraid it is. We’re afraid they won’t like us or we’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/our-fear-is-free-floating-we-re-afraid-this-isn-t-the-right/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [one should be afraid of life, not of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/one-should-be-afraid-of-life-not-of-death/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [“I'm not afraid of death…I'm afraid of life without you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-woon/i-m-not-afraid-of-death-i-m-afraid-of-life-without-you/) [Yvonne Woon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-woon/) > [“People who are afraid of death are usually afraid of life. Anon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-gellatly/people-who-are-afraid-of-death-are-usually-afraid-of-life-anon/) Douglas Gellatly ## More by Alexander Lowen > [Not to fear a person with power--to profess, instead, one's love--is to deny that that person has power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/not-to-fear-a-person-with-power-to-profess-instead-one-s-love-is-to/) [Alexander Lowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/) > [“You will stay in therapy as long as you feel it is worth the time, effort and money you invest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/you-will-stay-in-therapy-as-long-as-you-feel-it-is-worth-the-time/) [Alexander Lowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/) > [It is only by making the past alive again for a person that a true growth in the present is facilitated. If the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/it-is-only-by-making-the-past-alive-again-for-a-person-that-a-true/) [Alexander Lowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/) > [Despair is the only cure for illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/despair-is-the-only-cure-for-illusion/) [Alexander Lowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/) > [Faith is a quality of being: of being in touch with oneself, with life, and with the universe. It is a sense of belonging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/faith-is-a-quality-of-being-of-being-in-touch-with-oneself-with-life/) [Alexander Lowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/) > [“As adults, we have many inhibitions against crying. We feel it is an expression of weakness, or femininity or of childishness. 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The present situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/are-we-not-witnessing-a-situation-where-children-are-conciously/) [Alexander Lowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/) > [ “Happiness is the consciousness of growth. \[...\] If my definition has validity, it suggests that most people come to therapy because they sense their… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/happiness-is-the-consciousness-of-growth-if-my-definition-has/) [Alexander Lowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/) > [The person senses what it feels like to be free from inhibitions. At the same time he feels connected and integrated – with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/the-person-senses-what-it-feels-like-to-be-free-from-inhibitions-at/) [Alexander Lowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/) > [The feeling of love is a rich feeling, but the expression of love in word or deed is a joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/the-feeling-of-love-is-a-rich-feeling-but-the-expression-of-love-in/) [Alexander Lowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/) > [Everyone who becomes a psychotherapist eventually adopts a theory that suits his needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/everyone-who-becomes-a-psychotherapist-eventually-adopts-a-theory/) [Alexander Lowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/) [Explore all 58 Alexander Lowen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Because we are afraid of life, we seek to control or master it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexander Lowen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/because-we-are-afraid-of-life-we-seek-to-control-or-master-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afraid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/because-we-are-afraid-of-life-we-seek-to-control-or-master-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/alexander-lowen-11650_afraid_because-we-are-afraid-of-life-we-seek-to_2618839.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/alexander-lowen-11650_afraid_because-we-are-afraid-of-life-we-seek-to_2618839.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/alexander-lowen-11650_afraid_because-we-are-afraid-of-life-we-seek-to_2618839.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Because we are afraid of life, we seek to control or master it.” — Alexander Lowen", "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": "Alexander Lowen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Because we are afraid of life,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/because-we-are-afraid-of-life-we-seek-to-control-or-master-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/because-we-are-afraid-of-life-we-seek-to-control-or-master-it/#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 } } ] } ```