--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fear and self-doubt have always been the…" description: "\"Fear and self-doubt have always been the greatest enemies of human potential.\" — Brian Tracy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/brian-tracy-216_doubt_fear-and-self-doubt-have-always-been-the_2052166.jpg" --- # Fear and self-doubt have always been the greatest enemies… ![“Fear and self-doubt have always been the greatest enemies of human potential.” quote by Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/brian-tracy-216_doubt_fear-and-self-doubt-have-always-been-the_2052166.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/brian-tracy-216_doubt_fear-and-self-doubt-have-always-been-the_2052166.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/brian-tracy-216_doubt_fear-and-self-doubt-have-always-been-the_2052166.jpg) > “Fear and self-doubt have always been the greatest enemies of human potential.” [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑doubt hinders potential; overcoming it unlocks growth and success. **In simple terms:** Self‑doubt blocks growth. Key Takeaway Conquer doubt. Themes confidence potential psychology self‑improvement Mood motivational serious Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - public speaking - entrepreneurship - personal development Key Concepts cognitive bias growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your self‑doubt? - Which habits build confidence? A Different Perspective Fear can persist despite success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Human potential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-potential/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-doubt/) ## Related quotes > [The greatest enemies of success and happiness are negative emotions of all kinds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-greatest-enemies-of-success-and-happiness-are-negative-emotions/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [excessive fear and self-doubt that were the greatest detractors of personal genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/excessive-fear-and-self-doubt-that-were-the-greatest-detractors-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Fear and self-doubt are the deadly enemies of creativity. Don’t invite either into your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-roff/fear-and-self-doubt-are-the-deadly-enemies-of-creativity-don-t-invite/) [Don Roff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-roff/) > [Almost all the ideas we have about being a man or being a woman are so burdened with pain, anxiety, fear and self-doubt. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/almost-all-the-ideas-we-have-about-being-a-man-or-being-a-woman-are/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) > [You know, whenever I was presented with a challenge that brought up feelings of fear or self-doubt, I almost always said, 'Yes'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bass/you-know-whenever-i-was-presented-with-a-challenge-that-brought-up/) [Saul Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bass/) > [I’ve questioned everything about myself, every step of the way. 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They are a hundred times more dangerous to our liberties,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/this-tribe-of-black-gentry-work-more-effectually-against-us-than-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“the crudest and greatest enemies that ever the kirk of Scotland saw are those prelates; they have spoiled us of all our liberties, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/various/the-crudest-and-greatest-enemies-that-ever-the-kirk-of-scotland-saw/) Various > [the voluntary relinquishing of responsibility for our lives and our actions is one of the greatest enemies of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genesis-p-orridge/the-voluntary-relinquishing-of-responsibility-for-our-lives-and-our/) [Genesis P-Orridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genesis-p-orridge/) ## More by Brian Tracy > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“Rumi says: ‘die before you die’. It means live each moment fully. Then, when the moment dies, there is no pain or regret because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/rumi-says-die-before-you-die-it-means-live-each-moment-fully-then/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Almost any decision is better than no decision at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/almost-any-decision-is-better-than-no-decision-at-all/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Spend unbroken chunks of time with the most important people in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/spend-unbroken-chunks-of-time-with-the-most-important-people-in-your/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The effective leader recognizes that she is more dependent on her people than they are on her. 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It means refusing to say or do something that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/being-true-to-yourself-means-living-in-truth-with-each-person-in-your/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The happiest people in the world are those who feel absolutely terrific about themselves, and this is the natural outgrowth of accepting total responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-happiest-people-in-the-world-are-those-who-feel-absolutely/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The value of a promise is the cost to you of keeping your word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-value-of-a-promise-is-the-cost-to-you-of-keeping-your-word/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) [Explore all 882 Brian Tracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) ## More Doubt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [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/) > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Vision motivates, sustains and dispels doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-young/vision-motivates-sustains-and-dispels-doubt/) [Thomas Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-young/) > [One may not doubt that, somehow Good Shall come of Water and of Mud; And sure, the reverent eye must see A purpose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-brooke/one-may-not-doubt-that-somehow-good-shall-come-of-water-and-of-mud/) [Rupert Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-brooke/) > [Let smiles overshadow sadness. Let faith make you believe. Let confidence wash away doubts. Let love complete your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/let-smiles-overshadow-sadness-let-faith-make-you-believe-let/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapman/when-in-doubt-suggest-that-a-subcommittee-be-appointed/) Harry Chapman > [“Those who contemplate never escape the doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/those-who-contemplate-never-escape-the-doubt/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) [Browse all 9,582 Doubt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fear and self-doubt have always been the greatest enemies of human potential.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brian Tracy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/fear-and-self-doubt-have-always-been-the-greatest-enemies-of-human/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doubt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/fear-and-self-doubt-have-always-been-the-greatest-enemies-of-human/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/brian-tracy-216_doubt_fear-and-self-doubt-have-always-been-the_2052166.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/brian-tracy-216_doubt_fear-and-self-doubt-have-always-been-the_2052166.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/brian-tracy-216_doubt_fear-and-self-doubt-have-always-been-the_2052166.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Fear and self-doubt have always been the greatest enemies of human potential.” — Brian Tracy", "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": "Brian Tracy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Fear and self-doubt have always been...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/fear-and-self-doubt-have-always-been-the-greatest-enemies-of-human/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/fear-and-self-doubt-have-always-been-the-greatest-enemies-of-human/#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 } } ] } ```