Bathing suit Quote by Dale Breckenridge Carnegie
““Students of public speaking continually ask, "How can I overcome self-consciousness and the fear that paralyzes me before an audience?" Did you ever notice in looking from a train window that some horses feed near the track and never even pause to look up at the thundering cars, while just ahead at the next railroad crossing a farmer's wife will be nervously trying to quiet her scared horse as the train goes by? How would you cure a horse that is afraid of cars—graze him in a back-woods lot where he would never see steam-engines or automobiles, or drive or pasture him where he would frequently see the machines? Apply horse-sense to ridding yourself of self-consciousness and fear: face an audience as frequently as you can, and you will soon stop shying. You can never attain freedom from stage-fright by reading a treatise. A book may give you excellent suggestions on how best to conduct yourself in the water, but sooner or later you must get wet, perhaps even strangle and be "half scared to death." There are a great many "wetless" bathing suits worn at the seashore, but no one ever learns to swim in them. To plunge is the only way.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public Speaking Advice, Dale Carnegie, 1930s
Overcoming stage fright requires repeated exposure and practical experience, not just theory.
In simple terms: Face audiences often to reduce fear.
Practice regularly to build confidence.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- public speaking classes
- team meetings
- workshop presentations
- social events
- online webinars
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you create safe, frequent speaking opportunities?
- What small steps can you take today to confront your anxiety?
Reading alone won’t eliminate fear; real-world practice is essential.