--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are afraid. But fear confirms life and…" description: "\"We are afraid. But fear confirms life and identifies the source of every successful argument - ourselves.\" — Gerry Spence" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b06/gerry-spence-9080_afraid_we-are-afraid-but-fear-confirms-life-and_3174182.jpg" --- # We are afraid. But fear confirms life and identifies the… ![“We are afraid. But fear confirms life and identifies the source of every successful argument - ourselves.” quote by Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b06/gerry-spence-9080_afraid_we-are-afraid-but-fear-confirms-life-and_3174182.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b06/gerry-spence-9080_afraid_we-are-afraid-but-fear-confirms-life-and_3174182.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b06/gerry-spence-9080_afraid_we-are-afraid-but-fear-confirms-life-and_3174182.jpg) > “We are afraid. But fear confirms life and identifies the source of every successful argument - ourselves.” [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) ## 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 signal that reveals our values and drives us to confront personal biases, making arguments stronger when we recognize it. **In simple terms:** Fear shows what matters and sharpens our arguments. Key Takeaway Identify and confront your fears. Themes psychology self-awareness argumentation courage Mood introspective motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - debate preparation - personal growth - conflict resolution Key Concepts fear self‑knowledge critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What fears are influencing your decisions? - How can you turn fear into constructive action? A Different Perspective Fear can paralyze rather than motivate if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-fear/) [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Confirms Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confirms-life-5790032/) [Every Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-success/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Confirms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-confirms-5790031/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Source](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/source/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Successful Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-argument-3197387/) ## Related quotes > [Successful argument is a communication between the acknowledged authority of both parties to the argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/successful-argument-is-a-communication-between-the-acknowledged/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [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/) > [“I knew that if I allowed fear to overtake me, my journey was doomed. Fear, to a great extent, is born of a story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/i-knew-that-if-i-allowed-fear-to-overtake-me-my-journey-was-doomed-2/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [You can't live life being afraid, because fear censors ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erol-alkan/you-can-t-live-life-being-afraid-because-fear-censors-ambition/) [Erol Alkan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erol-alkan/) > [“Terry was cool, cooler then Ig would ever be, but he was afraid. His fear narrowed his vision so that he couldn't see anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hill/terry-was-cool-cooler-then-ig-would-ever-be-but-he-was-afraid-his/) [Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hill/) > [I’m afraid of everything. Fear of being alone, fear of being hurt, fear of being made a fool of, fear of failure... Still, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffanie-debartolo/i-m-afraid-of-everything-fear-of-being-alone-fear-of-being-hurt-fear/) [Tiffanie DeBartolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffanie-debartolo/) > [The only thing I am afraid of is fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-thing-i-am-afraid-of-is-fear/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear. Fear is a painful emotion that arises at the thought that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/there-is-no-fear-in-love-but-perfect-love-casteth-out-fear-fear-is-a/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“He wasn’t afraid. Fear was reserved for those who had something to live for”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-roberts/he-wasn-t-afraid-fear-was-reserved-for-those-who-had-something-to/) [C.J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-roberts/) > [“Instead of being afraid, I could become something to fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/instead-of-being-afraid-i-could-become-something-to-fear/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“I knew that if I allowed fear to overtake me, my journey was doomed. Fear, to a great extent, is born of a story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/i-knew-that-if-i-allowed-fear-to-overtake-me-my-journey-was-doomed/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [“Jules: Emma, everyone's afraid of something. We fear things because we value them. We fear losing people because we love them. We fear dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/jules-emma-everyone-s-afraid-of-something-we-fear-things-because-we/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [In my past, it looked like I could get into trouble in Russia - but I was not afraid then, and I'm not afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/in-my-past-it-looked-like-i-could-get-into-trouble-in-russia-but-i/) [Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/) > [“It is important you understand how fear affects you and how it drives human behavior so you can start to see situations and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/it-is-important-you-understand-how-fear-affects-you-and-how-it-drives/) [Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/) ## More by Gerry Spence > [The function of the law is not to provide justice or to preserve freedom. The function of the law is to keep those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/the-function-of-the-law-is-not-to-provide-justice-or-to-preserve/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [Each of us has been endowed with the perfect power to be free. Slavery is a state of mind that fails to acknowledge the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/each-of-us-has-been-endowed-with-the-perfect-power-to-be-free-slavery/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [When you are faced with prejudice, logic and justice are impotent. Still, we may have an obligation to argue directly into the face of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/when-you-are-faced-with-prejudice-logic-and-justice-are-impotent/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [Under any religion, the preestablished impersonal code transcends the right of the individual to explore, experience, and marvel at the mysteries of his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/under-any-religion-the-preestablished-impersonal-code-transcends-the/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [The new and most powerful union of all will be a union of one one man, one woman, one worker with special skills, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/the-new-and-most-powerful-union-of-all-will-be-a-union-of-one-one-man/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [Once slavery in America was not seen as radical. It became, instead, a revolutionary idea that slaves should be freed. When we have lived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/once-slavery-in-america-was-not-seen-as-radical-it-became-instead-a/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [Love is how we feel toward those who show us that which is lovable about ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/love-is-how-we-feel-toward-those-who-show-us-that-which-is-lovable/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [ Government \[is\] operated by deeply embedded, hopelessly entangled bureaus where nothing is accomplished because the function of the bureau is to intercept every living… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/government-is-operated-by-deeply-embedded-hopelessly-entangled/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [What the insurance companies have done is to reverse the business so that the public at large insures the insurance companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/what-the-insurance-companies-have-done-is-to-reverse-the-business-so/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [A new fascism promises security from the terror of crime. All that is required is that we take away the criminals' rights - which,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/a-new-fascism-promises-security-from-the-terror-of-crime-all-that-is/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [Nearly every day on the television set the hero cop breaks into the bad guy's house and beats a confession out of him and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/nearly-every-day-on-the-television-set-the-hero-cop-breaks-into-the/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [Our prejudices - we all have them - are part of our personality structure. The problem is that our prejudices may lie lurking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/our-prejudices-we-all-have-them-are-part-of-our-personality-structure/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [Prejudice locks the mind. Nothing can enter. Nothing true can escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/prejudice-locks-the-mind-nothing-can-enter-nothing-true-can-escape/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [Our willingness to openly reveal our feelings in our argument nearly always builds our credibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/our-willingness-to-openly-reveal-our-feelings-in-our-argument-nearly/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [. . . in America, we have achieved the Orwellian prediction - enslaved, the people have been programmed to love their bondage and are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/in-america-we-have-achieved-the-orwellian-prediction-enslaved-the/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) [Explore all 75 Gerry Spence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. 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. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are afraid. 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