--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That was the way with Man; it had always…" description: "\"“That was the way with Man; it had always been that way. He had carried terror with him. And the thing he was afraid of had always been himself.”\" — Cl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/clifford-d-simak-12884_afraid_that-was-the-way-with-man-it-had-always_3180098.jpg" --- # That was the way with Man; it had always been that way. He… ![“That was the way with Man; it had always been that way. He had carried terror with him. And the thing he was afraid of had always been himself.” quote by Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/clifford-d-simak-12884_afraid_that-was-the-way-with-man-it-had-always_3180098.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/clifford-d-simak-12884_afraid_that-was-the-way-with-man-it-had-always_3180098.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/clifford-d-simak-12884_afraid_that-was-the-way-with-man-it-had-always_3180098.jpg) > ““That was the way with Man; it had always been that way. He had carried terror with him. And the thing he was afraid of had always been himself.”” [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans often project fear onto external threats while the true source of terror is their own nature. **In simple terms:** Fear is often self‑inflicted. Key Takeaway Examine inner motives. Themes fear self‑knowledge human nature Mood introspective somber Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal growth - conflict resolution - leadership - mental health Key Concepts psychology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What internal fears drive your actions? - How can you confront the self that scares you? A Different Perspective Self‑reflection can be uncomfortable and may not lead to immediate change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [How tragic that the very thing that could set us free-playing the fool-is the thing we will not do. When we're afraid to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mason/how-tragic-that-the-very-thing-that-could-set-us-free-playing-the/) [Mike Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mason/) > [“Despite my struggle to focus, I did hear him say this: “The only thing I’m afraid of is a life without you, Pigeon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/despite-my-struggle-to-focus-i-did-hear-him-say-this-the-only-thing-i/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“You know that your truth, the one that you hide… is the thing you are most afraid of.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/you-know-that-your-truth-the-one-that-you-hide-is-the-thing-you-are/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“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/) > [“7. Resolved, Never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/7-resolved-never-to-do-any-thing-which-i-should-be-afraid-to-do-if-it/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [The only thing I'm afraid of is not coming home to my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-glover/the-only-thing-i-m-afraid-of-is-not-coming-home-to-my-family/) [Victor J. Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-glover/) > [It was foolish indeed - thus to run farther and farther from all who could help her, as if she had been seeking a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/it-was-foolish-indeed-thus-to-run-farther-and-farther-from-all-who/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [The only thing I am afraid of is fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-thing-i-am-afraid-of-is-fear/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The whole world is a very narrow bridge. And the most important thing is not to be afraid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebbe-nachman-of-breslov/the-whole-world-is-a-very-narrow-bridge-and-the-most-important-thing/) Rebbe Nachman of Breslov > [“I don't like you, Jack. You know that, right ?" "Right. No more than I like you, Brigham." "And I'm not afraid of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-shayne/i-don-t-like-you-jack-you-know-that-right-right-no-more-than-i-like/) [Maggie Shayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-shayne/) > [I was as afraid as the next man in my time and maybe more so. But with the years, fear had come to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-was-as-afraid-as-the-next-man-in-my-time-and-maybe-more-so-but-with/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/the-important-thing-is-not-being-afraid-to-take-a-chance/) [Debbi Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/) > [When you are afraid, do the thing you are afraid of and soon you will lose your fear of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/when-you-are-afraid-do-the-thing-you-are-afraid-of-and-soon-you-will/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [It's so easy to do things you like. But then, the thing is, when you're afraid of something, face it; go for it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/it-s-so-easy-to-do-things-you-like-but-then-the-thing-is-when-you-re/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [That's probably the only thing I am afraid of: time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/that-s-probably-the-only-thing-i-am-afraid-of-time/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) ## More by Clifford D. Simak > [Must faith be exactly that, the willingness and ability to believe in the face of a lack of evidence? If one could find the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/must-faith-be-exactly-that-the-willingness-and-ability-to-believe-in/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [Time is still the great mystery to us. It is no more than a concept; we don't know if it even exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/time-is-still-the-great-mystery-to-us-it-is-no-more-than-a-concept-we/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [My reluctance to use alien invasion is due to the feeling that we are not likely to be invaded and taken over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/my-reluctance-to-use-alien-invasion-is-due-to-the-feeling-that-we-are/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [Inside the time bubble we do not age. We age only when we are outside of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/inside-the-time-bubble-we-do-not-age-we-age-only-when-we-are-outside/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [The chain of life runs smoothly from one generation to the next and none of the links stand out except here and there a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/the-chain-of-life-runs-smoothly-from-one-generation-to-the-next-and/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [“Man's inability to understand and appreciate the thought and viewpoint of another man would be a stumbling block which no amount of mechanical ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/man-s-inability-to-understand-and-appreciate-the-thought-and/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [Here lies one from a distant star, but the soil is not alien to him, for in death he belongs to the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/here-lies-one-from-a-distant-star-but-the-soil-is-not-alien-to-him/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [I have not long to live. I have lasted more than a man's average allotted span, and while I still am hale and hearty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/i-have-not-long-to-live-i-have-lasted-more-than-a-man-s-average/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [I did not want to move. For I had the feeling that this was a place, once seen, that could not be seen again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/i-did-not-want-to-move-for-i-had-the-feeling-that-this-was-a-place/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [“Money here on Earth is more than the paper or the metal that you use for money, more than the rows of figures that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/money-here-on-earth-is-more-than-the-paper-or-the-metal-that-you-use/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [“Bridgeport, Wis. July 11, 1987 I write this letter to myself, so that the postmark may prove beyond controversy the day and year that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/bridgeport-wis-july-11-1987-i-write-this-letter-to-myself-so-that-the/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [It is only of life on Earth, however, that one can speak with any certainty. It seems to me that all life on Earth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/it-is-only-of-life-on-earth-however-that-one-can-speak-with-any/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [This is the very center of everything there is. A huge black hole eating up the galaxy. The end of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/this-is-the-very-center-of-everything-there-is-a-huge-black-hole/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [When I talk of the purpose of life, I am thinking not only of human life, but of all life on Earth and of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/when-i-talk-of-the-purpose-of-life-i-am-thinking-not-only-of-human/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [I have tried at times to place humans in perspective against the vastness of universal time and space. I have been concerned with where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/i-have-tried-at-times-to-place-humans-in-perspective-against-the/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) [Explore all 52 Clifford D. Simak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) ## 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 > [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 ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“That was the way with Man; it had always been that way. He had carried terror with him. And the thing he was afraid of had always been himself.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Clifford D. Simak" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/that-was-the-way-with-man-it-had-always-been-that-way-he-had-carried/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afraid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/that-was-the-way-with-man-it-had-always-been-that-way-he-had-carried/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/clifford-d-simak-12884_afraid_that-was-the-way-with-man-it-had-always_3180098.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/clifford-d-simak-12884_afraid_that-was-the-way-with-man-it-had-always_3180098.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/clifford-d-simak-12884_afraid_that-was-the-way-with-man-it-had-always_3180098.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That was the way with Man; it had always been that way. He had carried terror with him. And the thing he was…” — Clifford D. Simak", "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": "Clifford D. Simak", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“That was the way with Man;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/that-was-the-way-with-man-it-had-always-been-that-way-he-had-carried/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/that-was-the-way-with-man-it-had-always-been-that-way-he-had-carried/#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 } } ] } ```