--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let us not look back in anger, nor…" description: "\"“Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness. James Thurber”\" — Candy Paull" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1e/candy-paull-41113_anger_let-us-not-look-back-in-anger-nor-forwar_1030331.jpg" --- # Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but… ![“Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness. James Thurber” quote by Candy Paull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1e/candy-paull-41113_anger_let-us-not-look-back-in-anger-nor-forwar_1030331.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1e/candy-paull-41113_anger_let-us-not-look-back-in-anger-nor-forwar_1030331.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1e/candy-paull-41113_anger_let-us-not-look-back-in-anger-nor-forwar_1030331.jpg) > ““Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness. James Thurber”” [Candy Paull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy-paull/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Awareness, not anger or fear, should guide our perspective, fostering present‑moment clarity. **In simple terms:** Stay aware, avoid anger and fear. Key Takeaway Cultivate present awareness. Themes mindfulness awareness emotional regulation philosophy Mood calm thoughtful Type mindful inspirational When to use this quote - meditation - conflict resolution - leadership - creative work Key Concepts psychology spirituality literature Questions to Reflect On - How can you maintain awareness in stress? - What practices help you stay present? A Different Perspective Fear and anger can still intrude despite effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ## Related quotes > [Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/let-us-not-look-back-in-anger-nor-forward-in-fear-but-around-in/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around inebriated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king-aka-the-covert-comic/let-us-not-look-back-in-anger-nor-forward-in-fear-but-around/) [John Alejandro King aka The Covert Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king-aka-the-covert-comic/) > [I live in a kind of controlled awareness. I wouldn't call it fear, but it's an awareness. I know I have a responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-tyler-moore/i-live-in-a-kind-of-controlled-awareness-i-wouldn-t-call-it-fear-but/) [Mary Tyler Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-tyler-moore/) > [Courage isn't absenct of fear, it is the awareness that something else is important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courage-isn-t-absenct-of-fear-it-is-the-awareness-that-something-else/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers. —James Thurber (1894–1961)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/it-is-better-to-know-some-of-the-questions-than-all-of-the-answers-3/) [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) > [“While I love most, not to say all, of James Thurber’s cartoons, there are a handful that seem especially”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dirda/while-i-love-most-not-to-say-all-of-james-thurber-s-cartoons-there/) [Michael Dirda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dirda/) > [Leaders are problem solvers by talent and temperament, and by choice. For them, the new information environment-undermining old means of control, opening up old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-cleveland/leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-and-temperament-and-by-choice/) [Harlan Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-cleveland/) > [Technically, 'Kukla, Fran and Ollie' was a kids' show, but adults watched almost religiously - and we're talking adult adults, celebrated adults - including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-shales/technically-kukla-fran-and-ollie-was-a-kids-show-but-adults-watched/) [Tom Shales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-shales/) > [“In my mind ran the immortal line of James Thurber, that phrase at once so intensely comic and so pregnant with suggestions of unnameable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-boucher/in-my-mind-ran-the-immortal-line-of-james-thurber-that-phrase-at-once/) [Anthony Boucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-boucher/) > [“It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers. —James Thurber”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-palacio/it-is-better-to-know-some-of-the-questions-than-all-of-the-answers/) [R.J. Palacio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-palacio/) > [Humor is, I think, the subtlest and chanciest of literary forms. It is surely not accidental that there are a thousand novelists, essayists, poets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/humor-is-i-think-the-subtlest-and-chanciest-of-literary-forms-it-is/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [Many of the writers who have inspired me most are outside the genre: Humorists like Robert Benchley and James Thurber, screenwriters like Ben Hecht…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/many-of-the-writers-who-have-inspired-me-most-are-outside-the-genre/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [A guest at a dinner party observed the strange expression on James Thurber's face. 'Don't be concerned,' said Thurber's wife. 'He's writing.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophy-burnham/a-guest-at-a-dinner-party-observed-the-strange-expression-on-james/) [Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/) > [To go back is nothing but death; but to go forward is fear of death and life everlasting beyond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/to-go-back-is-nothing-but-death-but-to-go-forward-is-fear-of-death/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [There are those that say, if you do the uncomfortable thing long enough, it will become comfortable. But we are really not encouragers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/there-are-those-that-say-if-you-do-the-uncomfortable-thing-long/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) ## More by Candy Paull > [“you, bringing serenity in those moments when you are most absorbed in a project.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candy-paull/you-bringing-serenity-in-those-moments-when-you-are-most-absorbed-in/) [Candy Paull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy-paull/) > [“Abundance Prayer   When I am afraid, I ask myself: How can I give more to life? When I am tangled in past regrets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candy-paull/abundance-prayer-when-i-am-afraid-i-ask-myself-how-can-i-give-more-to/) [Candy Paull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy-paull/) > [“Real encouragers are willing to be fools in the eyes of cynics because they have a great vision,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candy-paull/real-encouragers-are-willing-to-be-fools-in-the-eyes-of-cynics/) [Candy Paull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy-paull/) > [“Fear believes . . . no one is listening and no one cares. Love believes . . . in prayer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candy-paull/fear-believes-no-one-is-listening-and-no-one-cares-love-believes-in/) [Candy Paull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy-paull/) > [“Judge not and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candy-paull/judge-not-and-you-will-not-be-judged-condemn-not-and-you-will-not-be/) [Candy Paull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy-paull/) > [“Choosing to believe that something larger than you is at work in, through, and for you is the starting point for all the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candy-paull/choosing-to-believe-that-something-larger-than-you-is-at-work-in/) [Candy Paull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy-paull/) > [“Every sunset is my world turning. Every season is good and offers its bounty to me. Every moment is mine to embrace for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candy-paull/every-sunset-is-my-world-turning-every-season-is-good-and-offers-its/) [Candy Paull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy-paull/) > [“choices. There is great power in immersing yourself in a satisfying creative project. First of all, it takes your mind off your worries and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candy-paull/choices-there-is-great-power-in-immersing-yourself-in-a-satisfying/) [Candy Paull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy-paull/) > [“SImplicity is focusing my attention on what I want to create and experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candy-paull/simplicity-is-focusing-my-attention-on-what-i-want-to-create-and/) [Candy Paull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy-paull/) [Explore all 10 Candy Paull quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy-paull/) ## More Anger quotes > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness. 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