--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fear has never helped anybody make good…" description: "\"Fear has never helped anybody make good choices. It leads to clinging when we should be walking.\" — Harriet Lerner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/578/harriet-lerner-4248_choices_fear-has-never-helped-anybody-make-good_2919735.jpg" --- # Fear has never helped anybody make good choices. It leads… ![“Fear has never helped anybody make good choices. It leads to clinging when we should be walking.” quote by Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/578/harriet-lerner-4248_choices_fear-has-never-helped-anybody-make-good_2919735.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/578/harriet-lerner-4248_choices_fear-has-never-helped-anybody-make-good_2919735.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/578/harriet-lerner-4248_choices_fear-has-never-helped-anybody-make-good_2919735.jpg) > “Fear has never helped anybody make good choices. It leads to clinging when we should be walking.” [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear hampers decision‑making, causing clinginess instead of forward movement. **In simple terms:** Fear blocks good choices and progress. Key Takeaway Recognize fear, then act despite it. Themes fear decision making growth Mood cautionary reflective Type philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - career moves - relationship choices - personal goals Key Concepts psychology behavioral economics Questions to Reflect On - When has fear helped you? - What steps break the cling‑to‑comfort pattern? A Different Perspective Fear can be paralyzing, not just a guide. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Good choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-choices/) ## Related quotes > [Throughout evolutionary history, anxiety and fear have helped every species to be wary and to survive. Fear can signal us to act, or, alternatively,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/throughout-evolutionary-history-anxiety-and-fear-have-helped-every/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [I have been fighting from a very young age. There is no fear there. It helped me cultivate the mindset of a fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritika-singh/i-have-been-fighting-from-a-very-young-age-there-is-no-fear-there-it/) [Ritika Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritika-singh/) > [“Facing the fear helped. Most days. But the thing about fear was that it ate away at your reason, made you smaller. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-dane/facing-the-fear-helped-most-days-but-the-thing-about-fear-was-that-it/) [Lauren Dane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-dane/) > [You can't live for God until you learn how to live because of God. And you can't go and make good choices for God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-donehey/you-can-t-live-for-god-until-you-learn-how-to-live-because-of-god-and/) [Mike Donehey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-donehey/) > [Forgiveness is a stunning principle, your ticket out of hate and fear and chaos. ... I know what regret feels like; I've earned my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-johnson/forgiveness-is-a-stunning-principle-your-ticket-out-of-hate-and-fear/) [Barbara Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-johnson/) > [“There are always consequences for our actions, and sometimes we pay dearly if we fail to make good choices with our lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-h-fowler/there-are-always-consequences-for-our-actions-and-sometimes-we-pay/) [H.H. Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-h-fowler/) > [I've always been open. That's made my resume. I go with what happens, and then I try to make good choices with what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sammel/i-ve-always-been-open-that-s-made-my-resume-i-go-with-what-happens/) [Richard Sammel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sammel/) > [“Make good choices and always do your best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-capitelli/make-good-choices-and-always-do-your-best/) Yvonne Capitelli > [“Surround yourself with people who make good choices.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janese-banks/surround-yourself-with-people-who-make-good-choices/) Janese Banks > [ I mean gifts and trips and clothing and all sorts of things, and now he \[Tim Kaine\] is running for vice president. I don't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-mean-gifts-and-trips-and-clothing-and-all-sorts-of-things-and-now/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I really like Natalie Portman. She went to college, and she's still in the film industry, making good choices in her career. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annasophia-robb/i-really-like-natalie-portman-she-went-to-college-and-she-s-still-in/) [AnnaSophia Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annasophia-robb/) > [Make good choices today so you won't have regrets tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/make-good-choices-today-so-you-won-t-have-regrets-tomorrow/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Instead, it just reminded her that sometimes there were no good choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/instead-it-just-reminded-her-that-sometimes-there-were-no-good-choices/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [I am the result of the good choices I've made and the bad choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-am-the-result-of-the-good-choices-i-ve-made-and-the-bad-choices/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [“You will, at times, be the most selfish asshole you can possibly imagine. You will step out of your own integrity. You will do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-leblanc/you-will-at-times-be-the-most-selfish-asshole-you-can-possibly/) [Jeanette LeBlanc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-leblanc/) ## More by Harriet Lerner > [“Letting go of anger and hate requires us to give up the hope for a different past, along with the hope of a fantasized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/letting-go-of-anger-and-hate-requires-us-to-give-up-the-hope-for-a/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [“There’s a widespread belief that if you have solid self-esteem you don’t need outside affirmation and praise. This is patently untrue, by the way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/there-s-a-widespread-belief-that-if-you-have-solid-self-esteem-you/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [It is an act of courage to acknowledge our own uncertainty and sit with it for a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/it-is-an-act-of-courage-to-acknowledge-our-own-uncertainty-and-sit/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Silence can pose a greater threat than the difficult truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/silence-can-pose-a-greater-threat-than-the-difficult-truth/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Nothing you say can ensure that the other person will get it, or respond the way you want. You may never exceed his threshold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/nothing-you-say-can-ensure-that-the-other-person-will-get-it-or/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [If you exchanged wedding vows, tape them to your bathroom mirror and read them aloud to yourself every morning along with the ritual brushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/if-you-exchanged-wedding-vows-tape-them-to-your-bathroom-mirror-and/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Kids want nothing more than for all the important adults in their life to get along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/kids-want-nothing-more-than-for-all-the-important-adults-in-their/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [“People's sense of self worth is pivotal to their ability to look clearly at the hurt they've caused. The more solid one's sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/people-s-sense-of-self-worth-is-pivotal-to-their-ability-to-look/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Being able to make a sincere apology - one that says, "Yes, I get it; I screwed up. Your feelings make sense, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/being-able-to-make-a-sincere-apology-one-that-says-yes-i-get-it-i/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [“Everyone freaks out. Sometimes the best we can do with fear is befriend it. Expect it and understand that fear will always reappear. Eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/everyone-freaks-out-sometimes-the-best-we-can-do-with-fear-is/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [The bolder and more courageous you are, the more you will learn about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/the-bolder-and-more-courageous-you-are-the-more-you-will-learn-about/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Underground issues from one relationship or context invariably fuel our fires in another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/underground-issues-from-one-relationship-or-context-invariably-fuel/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [There are some things for which there is no apology, and on the question of slavery, there is no adequate apology for ripping people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/there-are-some-things-for-which-there-is-no-apology-and-on-the/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Don't count on the power of your love or your nagging to create something that wasn't there to begin with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/don-t-count-on-the-power-of-your-love-or-your-nagging-to-create/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [If we only listened with the same passion that we feel about being heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/if-we-only-listened-with-the-same-passion-that-we-feel-about-being/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) [Explore all 113 Harriet Lerner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [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/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fear has never helped anybody make good choices. 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