--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fear of becoming a 'has-been' keeps…" description: "\"The fear of becoming a 'has-been' keeps some people from becoming anything.\" — Eric Hoffer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f9/eric-hoffer-343_becoming_the-fear-of-becoming-a-has-been-keeps-so_2616622.jpg" --- # The fear of becoming a 'has-been' keeps some people from… ![“The fear of becoming a 'has-been' keeps some people from becoming anything.” quote by Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f9/eric-hoffer-343_becoming_the-fear-of-becoming-a-has-been-keeps-so_2616622.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f9/eric-hoffer-343_becoming_the-fear-of-becoming-a-has-been-keeps-so_2616622.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f9/eric-hoffer-343_becoming_the-fear-of-becoming-a-has-been-keeps-so_2616622.jpg) > “The fear of becoming a 'has-been' keeps some people from becoming anything.” [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The fear of irrelevance can paralyze ambition, preventing people from trying new things. **In simple terms:** Fear of being forgotten stops people from trying. Key Takeaway Confront fear to pursue new goals. Themes fear motivation stagnation Mood cautious inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career change - artistic endeavors - personal development Key Concepts existential anxiety self‑fulfilling prophecy growth Questions to Reflect On - What does “has‑been” mean to you? - How can you turn fear into motivation? A Different Perspective Fear can also motivate people to act. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Becoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Keeps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-keeps-583204/) [Keeps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeps/) [Keeps People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeps-people-1621661/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“Fear never keeps anyone safe”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-denfeld/fear-never-keeps-anyone-safe/) [Rene Denfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-denfeld/) > [I see what keeps people young: work! I see what keeps people young: work!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/i-see-what-keeps-people-young-work-i-see-what-keeps-people-young-work/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [Options are good. 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Even”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/fear-is-what-keeps-a-man-alive-in-this-world-of-treachery-and-deceit/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [I'm always scared when I fight. But that fear is what keeps me more alert and more focused. It's good to have fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/i-m-always-scared-when-i-fight-but-that-fear-is-what-keeps-me-more/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) ## More by Eric Hoffer > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-lie-the-loudest-when-we-lie-to-ourselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Our originality shows itself most strikingly not in what we wholly originate but in what we do with that which we borrow from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-originality-shows-itself-most-strikingly-not-in-what-we-wholly/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The creative mind is the playful mind. 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The desire for praise is more imperative than the desire for food and shelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/this-food-and-shelter-theory-concerning-man-s-efforts-is-without/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) [Explore all 658 Eric Hoffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## More Becoming quotes > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) [Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. 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A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/) [Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/) > [I'm getting to a point where everything is becoming streamlined in my life. 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