--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must be afraid of neither poverty nor…" description: "\"We must be afraid of neither poverty nor exile nor imprisonment; of fear itself only should we be afraid.\" — Epictetus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/epictetus-413_afraid_we-must-be-afraid-of-neither-poverty-nor_559516.jpg" --- # We must be afraid of neither poverty nor exile nor… ![“We must be afraid of neither poverty nor exile nor imprisonment; of fear itself only should we be afraid.” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/epictetus-413_afraid_we-must-be-afraid-of-neither-poverty-nor_559516.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/epictetus-413_afraid_we-must-be-afraid-of-neither-poverty-nor_559516.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/epictetus-413_afraid_we-must-be-afraid-of-neither-poverty-nor_559516.jpg) > “We must be afraid of neither poverty nor exile nor imprisonment; of fear itself only should we be afraid.” [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True fear should be reserved for the internal threat of fear itself, not external hardships like poverty or exile. **In simple terms:** Fear of fear is the only real danger. Key Takeaway Focus on controlling your reactions, not circumstances. Themes philosophy resilience self‑control Mood reflective determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - public speaking - personal setbacks - financial stress - legal challenges Key Concepts stoicism inner freedom Questions to Reflect On - What internal fears dominate your thoughts? - How can you practice acceptance of external events? A Different Perspective External hardships can still cause real harm despite philosophical stance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-poverty-2385569/) [Exile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exile/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-afraid/) [Fear Itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-itself/) [Imprisonment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imprisonment/) [Imprisonment Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imprisonment-fear-4534209/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Poverty Exile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty-exile-4641868/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) ## Related quotes > [A religious ought to dread more being afraid of poverty than experiencing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/a-religious-ought-to-dread-more-being-afraid-of-poverty-than/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [When I was a kid, FDR on the radio said, 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself.' We should be afraid of fear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/when-i-was-a-kid-fdr-on-the-radio-said-we-have-nothing-to-fear-but/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [“Within a system which denies the existence of basic human rights, fear tends to be the order of the day. Fear of imprisonment, fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/within-a-system-which-denies-the-existence-of-basic-human-rights-fear/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [“To me, Hell isn’t a place; it’s a state of mind. It is a psychological self-imprisonment in which fear is the warden. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/to-me-hell-isn-t-a-place-it-s-a-state-of-mind-it-is-a-psychological/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [Love is never afraid of fear. Fear is always afraid of love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/love-is-never-afraid-of-fear-fear-is-always-afraid-of-love/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [At one point in time, you've just got to be a brave soldier, and speak up. What are you scared of, you know? So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/at-one-point-in-time-you-ve-just-got-to-be-a-brave-soldier-and-speak/) [Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/) > [I hate to see people shrink back in fear and be so afraid of making a mistake that they never try to do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/i-hate-to-see-people-shrink-back-in-fear-and-be-so-afraid-of-making-a/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [...in your living room, you're scared shitless. And that's just where the power structure wants you. In the middle of a riot, I've never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/in-your-living-room-you-re-scared-shitless-and-that-s-just-where-the/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) > [What is fear? Why are you so afraid? Even if everything is known about you and you are an open book, why fear? How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/what-is-fear-why-are-you-so-afraid-even-if-everything-is-known-about/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Everyone has fear, is afraid of something. 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Walk right up to it, then right past it and see if it doesn't run and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-sorenson/fear-is-afraid-of-you-don-t-think-so-walk-right-up-to-it-then-right/) [Toni Sorenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-sorenson/) > [Anxiety is not fear, being afraid of this or that definite object, but the uncanny feeling of being afraid of nothing at all. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barrett/anxiety-is-not-fear-being-afraid-of-this-or-that-definite-object-but/) [William Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barrett/) > [The litmus test for whether I want to take on a role or not is usually fear. If I'm afraid of it, then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/the-litmus-test-for-whether-i-want-to-take-on-a-role-or-not-is/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) ## More by Epictetus > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Practice yourself, for heaven's sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/practice-yourself-for-heaven-s-sake-in-little-things-and-then-proceed/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Do not laugh much or often or unrestrainedly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/do-not-laugh-much-or-often-or-unrestrainedly/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [When men are unhappy, they do not imagine they can ever cease to be so; and when some calamity has fallen on them, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/when-men-are-unhappy-they-do-not-imagine-they-can-ever-cease-to-be-so/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [We are not disturbed by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-not-disturbed-by-what-happens-to-us-but-by-our-thoughts-about/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Don't be prideful with any excellence that is not your own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-that-is-not-your-own/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [You know yourself what you are worth in your own eyes; and at what price you will sell yourself. For men sell themselves at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/you-know-yourself-what-you-are-worth-in-your-own-eyes-and-at-what/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Crows pick out the eyes of the dead, when the dead have no longer need of them; but flatterers mar the soul of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/crows-pick-out-the-eyes-of-the-dead-when-the-dead-have-no-longer-need/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/as-a-man-casting-off-worn-out-garments-taketh-new-ones-so-the-dweller/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [If you would improve, submit to be considered wihout sense and foolish with respect to externals. Wish to be considered to know nothing; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-would-improve-submit-to-be-considered-wihout-sense-and-foolish/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“For it is not death or pain that is to be feared, but the fear of pain or death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/for-it-is-not-death-or-pain-that-is-to-be-feared-but-the-fear-of-pain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [What else can I do, a lame old man, but sing hymns to God? If I were a nightingale, I would do the nightingale's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/what-else-can-i-do-a-lame-old-man-but-sing-hymns-to-god-if-i-were-a/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [People are disturbed not by things, but by the view they take of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them-2/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Small-minded people blame others. Average people blame themselves. The wise see all blame as foolishness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/small-minded-people-blame-others-average-people-blame-themselves-the/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/all-philosophy-lies-in-two-words-sustain-and-abstain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) [Explore all 577 Epictetus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. 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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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. 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