--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am afraid if there is anything to be…" description: "\"I am afraid if there is anything to be afraid of. A precipice cannot hurt you. Lions and tigers can. The streets of New York I consider more dangerous ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca9/annie-smith-peck-66813_afraid_i-am-afraid-if-there-is-anything-to-be-a_2406325.jpg" --- # I am afraid if there is anything to be afraid of. A… ![“I am afraid if there is anything to be afraid of. A precipice cannot hurt you. Lions and tigers can. The streets of New York I consider more dangerous than the Matterhorn to a thoroughly competent and careful climber.” quote by Annie Smith Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca9/annie-smith-peck-66813_afraid_i-am-afraid-if-there-is-anything-to-be-a_2406325.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca9/annie-smith-peck-66813_afraid_i-am-afraid-if-there-is-anything-to-be-a_2406325.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca9/annie-smith-peck-66813_afraid_i-am-afraid-if-there-is-anything-to-be-a_2406325.jpg) > “I am afraid if there is anything to be afraid of. A precipice cannot hurt you. Lions and tigers can. The streets of New York I consider more dangerous than the Matterhorn to a thoroughly competent and careful climber.” [Annie Smith Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-smith-peck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker contrasts imagined fears with real dangers, noting that abstract threats are harmless while tangible risks can cause harm, especially in urban environments. **In simple terms:** Imagined fears are harmless; real dangers matter. Key Takeaway Focus on actual risks, not imagined ones. Themes fear risk urban life perception reality Mood cautious reflective Type advice observational When to use this quote - travel in cities - mountaineering - personal safety planning - risk management Key Concepts psychology danger assessment urban safety Questions to Reflect On - What real dangers do you overlook? - How can you better assess true risk? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on imagined fear can distract from addressing real threats. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-afraid-308809/) [Afraid Precipice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-precipice-6042025/) [Careful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careful/) [Careful Climber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careful-climber-6042026/) [Climbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbers/) [Competent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competent/) [Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous/) [Dangerous Matterhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous-matterhorn-6042024/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Lions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lions/) [Matterhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matterhorn-118974/) [Mountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountain/) [Mountain climbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountain-climbing/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Precipice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precipice/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Tigers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tigers/) ## Related quotes > [“Without man there would be no evil. But there was also no good, nothing moral built over the world of fact. Humans were responsible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marlantes/without-man-there-would-be-no-evil-but-there-was-also-no-good-nothing/) [Karl Marlantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marlantes/) > [I began writing 'Matterhorn' in 1975 and for more than 30 years I kept working on my novel in my spare time, unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marlantes/i-began-writing-matterhorn-in-1975-and-for-more-than-30-years-i-kept/) [Karl Marlantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marlantes/) > [Mathematical study and research are very suggestive of mountaineering. Whymper made several efforts before he climbed the Matterhorn in the 1860's and even then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-j-mordell/mathematical-study-and-research-are-very-suggestive-of-mountaineering/) [Louis J. Mordell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-j-mordell/) > [As a member of an escorted tour, you don't even have to know the Matterhorn isn't a tuba.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-fielding/as-a-member-of-an-escorted-tour-you-don-t-even-have-to-know-the/) [Temple Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-fielding/) > [Climbing's always been a massive hobby of mine up until, kind of, recent times when I've had family, but no, it's been a driving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/climbing-s-always-been-a-massive-hobby-of-mine-up-until-kind-of/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [Yeah, I mean, climbing's always been a massive hobby of mine up until, kind of, recent times when I've had family, but no, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/yeah-i-mean-climbing-s-always-been-a-massive-hobby-of-mine-up-until/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > ['Matterhorn' is my metaphor of the Vietnam War - we built it, we abandoned it, we assaulted it, we lost, and then we abandoned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marlantes/matterhorn-is-my-metaphor-of-the-vietnam-war-we-built-it-we-abandoned/) [Karl Marlantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marlantes/) > [“We’re not afraid of who we are. We’re afraid of who we think we’re not. We strive, then, not to become the best version…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-leary/we-re-not-afraid-of-who-we-are-we-re-afraid-of-who-we-think-we-re-not/) [John O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-leary/) > [“We didn’t get that chance because I was afraid. Afraid I had no chance with you. That’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/we-didn-t-get-that-chance-because-i-was-afraid-afraid-i-had-no-chance/) [Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/) > [“What are we so afraid of? Why don't we let 'em tell us we're afraid? What is it they're afraid of?" She picked up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/what-are-we-so-afraid-of-why-don-t-we-let-em-tell-us-we-re-afraid/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [“I’m not afraid of anything, yet I think I’m afraid of Charlie. Not afraid of her. Afraid of having her. Of losing her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-a-tucker/i-m-not-afraid-of-anything-yet-i-think-i-m-afraid-of-charlie-not/) [K.A. Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-a-tucker/) > [I had gone through life thinking that I was better than everyone else and at the same time, being afraid of everyone. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-wholey/i-had-gone-through-life-thinking-that-i-was-better-than-everyone-else/) [Dennis Wholey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-wholey/) > [“Even now, I have a lot of trouble understanding why Sharon stayed – or why she married me in the first place, come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/even-now-i-have-a-lot-of-trouble-understanding-why-sharon-stayed-or/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [I'm afraid to be afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/i-m-afraid-to-be-afraid/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [“The thing he was afraid of, he was afraid somebody'd say something smarter than he had.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/the-thing-he-was-afraid-of-he-was-afraid-somebody-d-say-something/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) ## More by Annie Smith Peck > [Climbing is unadulterated hard labor. The only real pleasure is the satisfaction of going where no man has been before and where few can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-smith-peck/climbing-is-unadulterated-hard-labor-the-only-real-pleasure-is-the/) [Annie Smith Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-smith-peck/) > [Although one is not inclined to be timid or nervous, it is nevertheless a trifle depressing to receive letters full of expostulation and entreaty:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-smith-peck/although-one-is-not-inclined-to-be-timid-or-nervous-it-is/) [Annie Smith Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-smith-peck/) > [Nothing to mountaineering, just a little physical endurance, a good deal of brains, lots of practice, and plenty of warm clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-smith-peck/nothing-to-mountaineering-just-a-little-physical-endurance-a-good/) [Annie Smith Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-smith-peck/) [Explore all 4 Annie Smith Peck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-smith-peck/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am afraid if there is anything to be afraid of. 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