Fear Quote by Benjamin Hale
““...we, and I mean humans, are meaning makers. We do not discover the meanings of mysterious things, we invent them. We make meanings because meaninglessness terrifies us above all things. More than snakes, even. More than falling, or the dark. We trick ourselves into seeing meanings in things, when in fact all we are doing is grafting our meanings onto the universe to comfort ourselves. We gild the chaos of the universe with our symbols. To admit that something is meaningless is just like falling backward into darkness." (p184)””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Meaning of Meaning, Benjamin Hale, 2020
Humans create meanings to avoid the terror of emptiness; we impose narratives on the universe for comfort, even if they are fabrications.
In simple terms: We invent meaning to escape fear of nothingness.
Key Takeaway
Question your assumptions about meaning.
Themes
meaning‑making
existential anxiety
human nature
Mood
introspective
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- therapy sessions
- philosophical debates
- education curricula
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
cognitive bias
Questions to Reflect On
- What meanings do you hold that may be comforting lies?
- How do you confront true uncertainty?
A Different Perspective
Invented meanings can become limiting beliefs.
