--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It isn't only the terror everywhere, and…" description: "\"It isn't only the terror everywhere, and the fear of being conscious of it, that freezes people. It's more than that. People know they are in a society..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/doris-lessing-501_conscious_it-isn-t-only-the-terror-everywhere-and_2777232.png" --- # It isn't only the terror everywhere, and the fear of being… ![“It isn't only the terror everywhere, and the fear of being conscious of it, that freezes people. It's more than that. People know they are in a society dead or dying.” quote by Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/doris-lessing-501_conscious_it-isn-t-only-the-terror-everywhere-and_2777232.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/doris-lessing-501_conscious_it-isn-t-only-the-terror-everywhere-and_2777232.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7c/doris-lessing-501_conscious_it-isn-t-only-the-terror-everywhere-and_2777232.png) > “It isn't only the terror everywhere, and the fear of being conscious of it, that freezes people. It's more than that. People know they are in a society dead or dying.” [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People are paralyzed not just by fear, but by awareness of a dying society. **In simple terms:** Societal decay adds to personal terror. Key Takeaway Act despite societal gloom. Themes existential societal fear Mood somber thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - political unrest - environmental crisis - social decay - personal crisis Key Concepts nihilism collective anxiety Questions to Reflect On - How does societal health affect personal fear? - Can you find hope amid decline? A Different Perspective The statement may overgeneralize societal conditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [But it isn't only the terror everywhere, and the fear of being conscious of it, that freezes people. It's more than that. People know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/but-it-isn-t-only-the-terror-everywhere-and-the-fear-of-being/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [There's also something sexual about watching the nubile girl in terror. 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They felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-ripley/the-one-thread-that-was-most-surprising-and-most-consistent-was-the/) [Amanda Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-ripley/) > [The decision to relax rather than to grip, even in the face of impatience or fear, is a conscious and brave choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/the-decision-to-relax-rather-than-to-grip-even-in-the-face-of/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [Loneliness is, I think, people's biggest fear, whether they are conscious of it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-stanton/loneliness-is-i-think-people-s-biggest-fear-whether-they-are/) [Andrew Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-stanton/) > [“Even death itself is made wretched by terror and fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/even-death-itself-is-made-wretched-by-terror-and-fear/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Peace is not the product of terror or fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-romero/peace-is-not-the-product-of-terror-or-fear/) [Oscar Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-romero/) > [At the heart of any terror is the fear of losing what we find meaningful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/at-the-heart-of-any-terror-is-the-fear-of-losing-what-we-find/) [Mark Z. 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We can survive anything you care to mention. We are supremely equipped to survive, to adapt and even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/the-human-community-is-evolving-we-can-survive-anything-you-care-to/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [So love is rest? The cosy corner? The little nook? Sometimes it ought to be. Sometimes it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/so-love-is-rest-the-cosy-corner-the-little-nook-sometimes-it-ought-to/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) [Explore all 508 Doris Lessing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) ## More Conscious quotes > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [Woman, in short, has an unconscious life, man a conscious life, and the genius the most conscious life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/woman-in-short-has-an-unconscious-life-man-a-conscious-life-and-the/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? 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