--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fear is an instinct, like hunger or…" description: "\"Fear is an instinct, like hunger or anger. We need it to help us survive, and it is nothing to be ashamed of. It lets us know whether we should fight o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/david-clement-davies-13688_ashamed_fear-is-an-instinct-like-hunger-or-anger_3176444.jpg" --- # Fear is an instinct, like hunger or anger. We need it to… ![“Fear is an instinct, like hunger or anger. We need it to help us survive, and it is nothing to be ashamed of. It lets us know whether we should fight or flee.” quote by David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/david-clement-davies-13688_ashamed_fear-is-an-instinct-like-hunger-or-anger_3176444.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/david-clement-davies-13688_ashamed_fear-is-an-instinct-like-hunger-or-anger_3176444.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/david-clement-davies-13688_ashamed_fear-is-an-instinct-like-hunger-or-anger_3176444.jpg) > “Fear is an instinct, like hunger or anger. We need it to help us survive, and it is nothing to be ashamed of. It lets us know whether we should fight or flee.” [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear is a natural instinct that signals danger and guides survival choices, not something to be ashamed of. **In simple terms:** Fear is a natural survival tool. Key Takeaway Use fear as a guide, not a hindrance. Themes survival emotion self‑acceptance Mood cautious motivational Type psychological inspirational When to use this quote - personal safety - risk assessment - stress management - adventure sports Key Concepts biology psychology evolutionary theory Questions to Reflect On - When does fear become a barrier? - How can you balance fear and courage? A Different Perspective Excessive fear can paralyze action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ashamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) ## Related quotes > [Human institutions depend for their existence and stability on the impulse of self-preservation and its close associate, - the fear instinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/human-institutions-depend-for-their-existence-and-stability-on-the/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [Must the hunger become anger and the anger fury before anything will be done?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/must-the-hunger-become-anger-and-the-anger-fury-before-anything-will/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The great companies did not know that the line between hunger and anger is a thin line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/the-great-companies-did-not-know-that-the-line-between-hunger-and-2/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“In both countries rapid inflation caused homegrown produce to be withheld from the urban markets, with hunger and anger the inevitable result.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-fergusson/in-both-countries-rapid-inflation-caused-homegrown-produce-to-be/) Adam Fergusson > [“The great companies did not know that the line between hunger and anger is a thin line. And money that might have gone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/the-great-companies-did-not-know-that-the-line-between-hunger-and/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Must hunger become anger and anger fury before anything will be done?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/must-hunger-become-anger-and-anger-fury-before-anything-will-be-done/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I think I have an instinct of, like, the right record comes knocking at my door and says, 'Want to come out to play?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roisin-murphy/i-think-i-have-an-instinct-of-like-the-right-record-comes-knocking-at/) [Roisin Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roisin-murphy/) > [Telling us to obey instinct is like telling us to obey 'people.' People say different things: so do instincts. Our instincts are at war...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/telling-us-to-obey-instinct-is-like-telling-us-to-obey-people-people-2/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [It's not like I mean to throw no-look passes. I think it kind of happens out of instinct. As I do it, I'm like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-mahomes/it-s-not-like-i-mean-to-throw-no-look-passes-i-think-it-kind-of/) [Patrick Mahomes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-mahomes/) > [“Like...instinct?" At that Laurel flopped down on her back, a frustrated breath whooshing out of her. "Oh man, instinct, that's like the F-word in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/like-instinct-at-that-laurel-flopped-down-on-her-back-a-frustrated/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [There is no instinct like that of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-instinct-like-that-of-the-heart/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Instinct is like Nature herself - prodigiously conservative, and yet transcending her own historical conditions in her acts of creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/instinct-is-like-nature-herself-prodigiously-conservative-and-yet/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [“It’s really a rather simple thing to bring balance to my anger. All I need to do is remember that the ‘hand of cards’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/it-s-really-a-rather-simple-thing-to-bring-balance-to-my-anger-all-i/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [Anger is one of the most common and destructive delusions, and it afflicts our mind almost every day. To solve the problem of anger,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/anger-is-one-of-the-most-common-and-destructive-delusions-and-it/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [“There are two kinds of anger: hot and cold. Boys and girls experience both, but as they grow up the anger separates according to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/there-are-two-kinds-of-anger-hot-and-cold-boys-and-girls-experience/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) ## More by David Clement-Davies > [“So let me give you a blessing. When everything around you seems conspiring to tear out your heart and your mind, or show you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/so-let-me-give-you-a-blessing-when-everything-around-you-seems/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [Everything Dies. That is the law of life-the bitter unchangeable law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/everything-dies-that-is-the-law-of-life-the-bitter-unchangeable-law/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [Death,' whispered Tarlar, 'you do not fear it, Fell? By water, or any other way?' 'What is to fear?" answered the black wolf. 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/death-whispered-tarlar-you-do-not-fear-it-fell-by-water-or-any-other/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [Man, who thinks he knows everything. But what does man know...Man cares only for himself, in his fear and hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/man-who-thinks-he-knows-everything-but-what-does-man-know-man-cares/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [know that without night there is no day; without lies, no truth;without despair,no hope. Beware above all of hate, but call to its opposite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/know-that-without-night-there-is-no-day-without-lies-no-truth-without/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [Not stories told by wolf or man to frighten children, of Wolfbane and of werewolves, of grasht and goblins and of silly vampires, fables…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/not-stories-told-by-wolf-or-man-to-frighten-children-of-wolfbane-and/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [Life is wonderful, so revel in its beauty. Be all you can be, and let go of the past. It is nothing but shadows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/life-is-wonderful-so-revel-in-its-beauty-be-all-you-can-be-and-let-go/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [Christians believe that God came amongst us as a man, do they not? Yet the Muselmen say he was only a prophet, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/christians-believe-that-god-came-amongst-us-as-a-man-do-they-not-yet/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [...at times, the greatest courage of all is to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/at-times-the-greatest-courage-of-all-is-to-live/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [“The future?' came the voice sadly...'And do we really pass anything on to the future, except mirrors of ourselves? What if the future is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/the-future-came-the-voice-sadly-and-do-we-really-pass-anything-on-to/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [In that moment she learnt one of the greatest secrets of life: It is often easier to fight for others than it is for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/in-that-moment-she-learnt-one-of-the-greatest-secrets-of-life-it-is/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [Now go away, or I'll get my friends the Bats to bite you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/now-go-away-or-i-ll-get-my-friends-the-bats-to-bite-you/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [Our destinies are our own, if we have the courage to take control of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/our-destinies-are-our-own-if-we-have-the-courage-to-take-control-of/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [“they say that wisdom is a woman, and loves a warrior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/they-say-that-wisdom-is-a-woman-and-loves-a-warrior/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) > [“Brassa,' she whispered, 'what is the moon? Why does it grow in the sky?' 'Because the moon is the goddess Tor,' answered Brassa softly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clement-davies/brassa-she-whispered-what-is-the-moon-why-does-it-grow-in-the-sky/) [David Clement-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) [Explore all 49 David Clement-Davies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clement-davies/) ## More Ashamed quotes > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I know what you're thinking... and you oughtta be ashamed of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-preston/i-know-what-you-re-thinking-and-you-oughtta-be-ashamed-of-yourself/) Robert Preston > [You never meet the writer when you're making a TV movie in America - they're too ashamed to show up and see how their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-don-baker/you-never-meet-the-writer-when-you-re-making-a-tv-movie-in-america/) [Joe Don Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-don-baker/) > [I'm not ashamed of the things I believe and why I believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/i-m-not-ashamed-of-the-things-i-believe-and-why-i-believe-them/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“with her own life. And I was ashamed.” Humiliated. Broken. Miserable. If Wilcher had stood by Jaymee, if her father hadn’t berated her, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-green/with-her-own-life-and-i-was-ashamed-humiliated-broken-miserable-if/) Stacy Green > [You should avoid hedging, at least that's what I think. You should be ashamed to die until you've made some contribution to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-johns/you-should-avoid-hedging-at-least-that-s-what-i-think-you-should-be/) Vernon Johns > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [“When all are undressed, one is somehow not ashamed, but when one's the only one undressed and everybody is looking, it's degrading,' he kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/when-all-are-undressed-one-is-somehow-not-ashamed-but-when-one-s-the/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [There are a great many colored people who are ashamed of the cake-walk, but I think they ought to be proud of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/there-are-a-great-many-colored-people-who-are-ashamed-of-the-cake/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) > [I love him who is ashamed when the dice fall in his favour, and who then asketh: "Am I a dishonest player?" - for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-love-him-who-is-ashamed-when-the-dice-fall-in-his-favour-and-who/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zondervan-publishing/whoever-is-ashamed-of-me-and-my-words-the-son-of-man-will-be-ashamed/) [Zondervan Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zondervan-publishing/) > [You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-were-never-created-to-live-depressed-defeated-guilty-condemned/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-never-wonder-to-see-men-wicked-but-i-often-wonder-to-see-them-not/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“To survive during the Khmer Rouge, you had to steal, cheat, lie, point fingers at others, even kill. And now you are ashamed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-brinkley/to-survive-during-the-khmer-rouge-you-had-to-steal-cheat-lie-point/) [Joel Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-brinkley/) [Browse all 1,607 Ashamed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fear is an instinct, like hunger or anger. 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