---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Terror acts powerfully upon the body…"
description: "\"Terror acts powerfully upon the body, through the medium of the mind, and should be employed in the cure of madness.\" — Benjamin Rush"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/benjamin-rush-9439_body_terror-acts-powerfully-upon-the-body-thr_1345783.png"
---

#  Terror acts powerfully upon the body, through the medium…

![“Terror acts powerfully upon the body, through the medium of the mind, and should be employed in the cure of madness.” quote by Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/benjamin-rush-9439_body_terror-acts-powerfully-upon-the-body-thr_1345783.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/benjamin-rush-9439_body_terror-acts-powerfully-upon-the-body-thr_1345783.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/benjamin-rush-9439_body_terror-acts-powerfully-upon-the-body-thr_1345783.png)

> “Terror acts powerfully upon the body, through the medium of the mind, and should be employed in the cure of madness.”

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote argues that fear can be a powerful tool to treat mental illness when used appropriately.

**In simple terms:** Fear can be used therapeutically for madness.

Key Takeaway

Use fear responsibly in therapy.

Themes

psychology therapy fear madness

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

clinical philosophical

When to use this quote

- clinical treatment
- mental health interventions
- patient coping

Key Concepts

cognitive behavior exposure therapy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can fear be safely integrated into treatment?
- What are ethical limits?

A Different Perspective

Fear may cause harm if misapplied.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Acts Powerfully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acts-powerfully-4560090/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Cure Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cure-madness-2044956/) [Cures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cures/) [Employed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employed/) [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) [Mediums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediums/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terror/) [Terror Acts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terror-acts-1232438/)

## Related quotes

> [No amount of love can cure madness or unblacken one's dark moods. Love can help, it can make the pain more tolerable, but, always,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/no-amount-of-love-can-cure-madness-or-unblacken-one-s-dark-moods-love/)

[Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/)

> [The deliberate and deadly attacks which were carried out yesterday against our country were more than acts of terror. They were acts of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-deliberate-and-deadly-attacks-which-were-carried-out-yesterday/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [“Art is my cure to all this madness, sadness and loss of belonging in the world &amp; through it I'll walk myself home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rowe/art-is-my-cure-to-all-this-madness-sadness-and-loss-of-belonging-in/)

[Nikki Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rowe/)

> [“ No amount of love can cure madness or unblacken one's dark moods. Love can help, it can make the pain more tolerable, but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/no-amount-of-love-can-cure-madness-or-unblacken-one-s-dark-moods-love-2/)

[Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/)

> [“There is no cure for madness except the madness as the cure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santosh-kalwar/there-is-no-cure-for-madness-except-the-madness-as-the-cure/)

[Santosh Kalwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santosh-kalwar/)

> [Mirth, and even cheerfulness, when employed as remedies in low spirits, are like hot water to a frozen limb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/mirth-and-even-cheerfulness-when-employed-as-remedies-in-low-spirits/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

> [While the business of education in Europe consists in lectures upon the ruins of Palmyra and the antiquities of Herculaneum, or in disputes about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/while-the-business-of-education-in-europe-consists-in-lectures-upon-2/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

> [While the business of education in Europe consists in lectures upon the ruins of Palmyra and the antiquities of Herculaneum , or in disputes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/while-the-business-of-education-in-europe-consists-in-lectures-upon/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

> [Out of the ashes of misanthropy benevolence rises again; we find many virtues where we had imagined all was vice, many acts of disinterested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/out-of-the-ashes-of-misanthropy-benevolence-rises-again-we-find-many/)

[Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/)

> [...This large and expensive stock of drugs will be unnecessary. By...doses of...medicines...multiplying...combining them properly, 20 to 30 articles, aided by the common resources of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/this-large-and-expensive-stock-of-drugs-will-be-unnecessary-by-doses/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

> [Oh yeah, I'm still employed at Pixar and I love it here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-bird/oh-yeah-i-m-still-employed-at-pixar-and-i-love-it-here/)

[Brad Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-bird/)

> [With a full century of contrary proof in our possession and despite our demonstrated capacity for cooperative teamwork, some among us seem to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/with-a-full-century-of-contrary-proof-in-our-possession-and-despite/)

[Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/)

> [Virtue is as little to be acquired by learning as genius; nay, the idea is barren, and is only to be employed as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/virtue-is-as-little-to-be-acquired-by-learning-as-genius-nay-the-idea/)

[Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/)

> [Over the past 50 years Bob Hope employed 88 joke writers who supplied him with more than one million gags, and he still couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-murphy/over-the-past-50-years-bob-hope-employed-88-joke-writers-who-supplied/)

[Eddie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-murphy/)

> [ \[The Community's\] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-guerin/the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give-me-confidence-but-i-derive-my/)

[Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-guerin/)

## More by Benjamin Rush

> [While the business of education in Europe consists in lectures upon the ruins of Palmyra and the antiquities of Herculaneum , or in disputes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/while-the-business-of-education-in-europe-consists-in-lectures-upon/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

> [Freedom can exist only in the society of knowledge. Without learning, men are incapable of knowing their rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/freedom-can-exist-only-in-the-society-of-knowledge-without-learning/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

> [...This large and expensive stock of drugs will be unnecessary. By...doses of...medicines...multiplying...combining them properly, 20 to 30 articles, aided by the common resources of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/this-large-and-expensive-stock-of-drugs-will-be-unnecessary-by-doses/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

> [Without religion, I believe that learning does real mischief to the morals and principles of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/without-religion-i-believe-that-learning-does-real-mischief-to-the/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

> [ \[W\]here there is no law, there is no liberty; and nothing deserves the name of law but that which is certain and universal in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/w-here-there-is-no-law-there-is-no-liberty-and-nothing-deserves-the/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

> [I have alternately been called an Aristocrat and a Democrat. I am neither. I am a Christocrat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/i-have-alternately-been-called-an-aristocrat-and-a-democrat-i-am/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

> [ The business of education has lay\[ed\] the foundations for nurseries of wise and good men, to adapt our modes of teaching to the peculiar… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/the-business-of-education-has-lay-ed-the-foundations-for-nurseries-of/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

> [Let us show the world that a difference of opinion upon medical subjects is not incompatible with medical friendships; and in so doing, let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/let-us-show-the-world-that-a-difference-of-opinion-upon-medical/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

> [The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/the-gates-of-hell-shall-not-prevail-against-it/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

> [It would seem from this fact, that man is naturally a wild animal, and that when taken from the woods, he is never happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/it-would-seem-from-this-fact-that-man-is-naturally-a-wild-animal-and/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

> [The only foundation for . . . a republic is to be laid in Religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/the-only-foundation-for-a-republic-is-to-be-laid-in-religion-without/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

> [If we were to remove the Bible from public schools we would be wasting so much time punishing crimes and taking so little pains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/if-we-were-to-remove-the-bible-from-public-schools-we-would-be/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

> [Let the children...be carefully instructed in the principles and obligations of the Christian religion. This is the most essential part of education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/let-the-children-be-carefully-instructed-in-the-principles-and/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

> [I have always considered Christianity as the strong ground of republicanism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/i-have-always-considered-christianity-as-the-strong-ground-of/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

> [A belief in God's universal love to all his creatures, and that he will finally restore all of them that are miserable to happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/a-belief-in-god-s-universal-love-to-all-his-creatures-and-that-he/)

[Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

[Explore all 72 Benjamin Rush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/)

## More Body quotes

> [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/)

[Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/)

> [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/)

[Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/)

> [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/)

[Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/)

> [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/)

[Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/)

> [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/)

[Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/)

> [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/)

[Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/)

> [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/)

[Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. Modern day diseases are mostly psychosomatic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/if-japa-is-maintained-no-useless-talk-during-work-will-be-possible/)

[Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/)

> [It is the incongruous thing in my entire life, this isolation.. ... My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/)

[Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/)

> [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

[Browse all 20,814 Body quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Terror acts powerfully upon the body, through the medium of the mind, and should be employed in the cure of madness.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Benjamin Rush"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/terror-acts-powerfully-upon-the-body-through-the-medium-of-the-mind/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Body"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/terror-acts-powerfully-upon-the-body-through-the-medium-of-the-mind/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/benjamin-rush-9439_body_terror-acts-powerfully-upon-the-body-thr_1345783.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/benjamin-rush-9439_body_terror-acts-powerfully-upon-the-body-thr_1345783.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/benjamin-rush-9439_body_terror-acts-powerfully-upon-the-body-thr_1345783.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Terror acts powerfully upon the body, through the medium of the mind, and should be employed in the cure of…” — Benjamin Rush",
                "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": "Benjamin Rush",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Terror acts powerfully upon the body,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/terror-acts-powerfully-upon-the-body-through-the-medium-of-the-mind/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/terror-acts-powerfully-upon-the-body-through-the-medium-of-the-mind/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
