--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I made the decision long ago that to be…" description: "\"I made the decision long ago that to be afraid would be to diminish my life.\" — Janet Reno" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/janet-reno-12034_afraid_i-made-the-decision-long-ago-that-to-be_621378.png" --- # I made the decision long ago that to be afraid would be to… ![“I made the decision long ago that to be afraid would be to diminish my life.” quote by Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/janet-reno-12034_afraid_i-made-the-decision-long-ago-that-to-be_621378.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/janet-reno-12034_afraid_i-made-the-decision-long-ago-that-to-be_621378.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/janet-reno-12034_afraid_i-made-the-decision-long-ago-that-to-be_621378.png) > “I made the decision long ago that to be afraid would be to diminish my life.” [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing not to fear empowers one to live fully and pursue life without self‑imposed limits. **In simple terms:** Fear limits life; choose courage. Key Takeaway Embrace courage over fear. Themes courage self‑empowerment mindset Mood hopeful empowering Type self‑help motivational When to use this quote - career changes - public speaking - personal challenges - creative projects Key Concepts psychology personal growth resilience decision making Questions to Reflect On - What fears hold you back? - How can you transform fear into motivation? A Different Perspective Fear can be a natural response to risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid Diminish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-diminish-5026786/) [Ago Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ago-afraid-1277251/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Diminish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diminish/) [Diminish Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diminish-life-5026787/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-ago/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [I would like to grow less afraid of dying. I am infinitely less afraid today than I was 15 or 25 years ago. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/i-would-like-to-grow-less-afraid-of-dying-i-am-infinitely-less-afraid/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [“ 'Dad' she huffs. 'Kinney Hale,' he refutes, "I banished ghosts from this house millenniums ago. They're all afraid of me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-ritchie/dad-she-huffs-kinney-hale-he-refutes-i-banished-ghosts-from-this/) [Becca Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-ritchie/) > [“It seems so long ago that he was last afraid of anything. Seventeen, was he then? Eighteen? Sometimes he thinks he's missing a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornell-woolrich/it-seems-so-long-ago-that-he-was-last-afraid-of-anything-seventeen-2/) [Cornell Woolrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornell-woolrich/) > [It seems so long ago that he was last afraid of anything. Seventeen, was he then? Eighteen? Sometimes he thinks he's missing a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornell-woolrich/it-seems-so-long-ago-that-he-was-last-afraid-of-anything-seventeen/) [Cornell Woolrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornell-woolrich/) > [I learned to put my trust in God and to see Him as my strength. Long ago I set my mind to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-parks/i-learned-to-put-my-trust-in-god-and-to-see-him-as-my-strength-long/) [Rosa Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-parks/) > [As political and economic freedom diminishes, sexual freedom tends correspondingly to increase. 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Ott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-e-ott/) > [Major international interventions are doomed unless the US is directly or indirectly involved. But if American politicians, officials and servicemen are to be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/major-international-interventions-are-doomed-unless-the-us-is/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [A poet who makes use of a worse word instead of a better, because the former fits the rhyme or the measure, though it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/a-poet-who-makes-use-of-a-worse-word-instead-of-a-better-because-the/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Maybe that will happen with other countries as well. And so, that's why one of the things that groups like mine that work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/maybe-that-will-happen-with-other-countries-as-well-and-so-that-s-why/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [Commerce diminishes the spirit, both of patriotism and military defence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/commerce-diminishes-the-spirit-both-of-patriotism-and-military-defence/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“instead of accepting love's strength, we are trying to diminish it so that it fits the world in which we imagine we live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/instead-of-accepting-love-s-strength-we-are-trying-to-diminish-it-so/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I think you can train yourself to block out some of that pressure and replace it with confidence. It's about preparation, and the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rodgers/i-think-you-can-train-yourself-to-block-out-some-of-that-pressure-and/) [Aaron Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rodgers/) > [I am a little older and understand the nature of the business - the older you get the more your skills supposedly diminish, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-moss/i-am-a-little-older-and-understand-the-nature-of-the-business-the/) [Randy Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-moss/) ## More by Janet Reno > [Haters are cowards. When confronted they often back down. We must resist haters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/haters-are-cowards-when-confronted-they-often-back-down-we-must/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) > [We want to continue the efforts against domestic violence and spread the drug courts, and develop real effective means of providing treatment for drug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/we-want-to-continue-the-efforts-against-domestic-violence-and-spread/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) > [The U.S. government alleges that for the past 45 years, the companies that manufacture and sell tobacco have waged an intentional and coordinated campaign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/the-u-s-government-alleges-that-for-the-past-45-years-the-companies/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) > [Nobody should be owning a gun which does not have a sporting purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/nobody-should-be-owning-a-gun-which-does-not-have-a-sporting-purpose/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) > [Everybody should want to make sure that we have the cyber tools necessary to investigate cyber crimes, and to be prepared to defend against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/everybody-should-want-to-make-sure-that-we-have-the-cyber-tools/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) > [It was not the president's responsibility to run a law enforcement operation. It was ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/it-was-not-the-president-s-responsibility-to-run-a-law-enforcement/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) > [I'm not fancy. I'm what I appear to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/i-m-not-fancy-i-m-what-i-appear-to-be/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) > [ We are trying to identify employers that might be \[hiring illegal aliens\] and to take effective action against them. We're trying to make sure… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/we-are-trying-to-identify-employers-that-might-be-hiring-illegal/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) > [The president really shouldn't be involved in terms of dictating what course the investigation should take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/the-president-really-shouldn-t-be-involved-in-terms-of-dictating-what/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) > [Waiting periods are only a step. Registration is only a step. The prohibition of private firearms is the goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/waiting-periods-are-only-a-step-registration-is-only-a-step-the/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) > [I worked with some wonderful people, tried my best and I feel comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/i-worked-with-some-wonderful-people-tried-my-best-and-i-feel/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) > [I have inquired for most of my adult life about studies that might show that the death penalty is a deterrent. And I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/i-have-inquired-for-most-of-my-adult-life-about-studies-that-might/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) > [At this moment I do not have a personal relationship with a computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/at-this-moment-i-do-not-have-a-personal-relationship-with-a-computer/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) > [Anybody that thought that I tried to protect the president has forgotten that I asked for the expansion of the Monica Lewinsky matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/anybody-that-thought-that-i-tried-to-protect-the-president-has/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) > [Vengeance is a personal reaction. But not one that government can indulge in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/vengeance-is-a-personal-reaction-but-not-one-that-government-can/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) [Explore all 56 Janet Reno quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) ## 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": "I made the decision long ago that to be afraid would be to diminish my life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Janet Reno" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/i-made-the-decision-long-ago-that-to-be-afraid-would-be-to-diminish/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afraid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/i-made-the-decision-long-ago-that-to-be-afraid-would-be-to-diminish/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/janet-reno-12034_afraid_i-made-the-decision-long-ago-that-to-be_621378.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/janet-reno-12034_afraid_i-made-the-decision-long-ago-that-to-be_621378.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/janet-reno-12034_afraid_i-made-the-decision-long-ago-that-to-be_621378.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I made the decision long ago that to be afraid would be to diminish my life.” — Janet Reno", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Janet Reno", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I made the decision long ago...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/i-made-the-decision-long-ago-that-to-be-afraid-would-be-to-diminish/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/i-made-the-decision-long-ago-that-to-be-afraid-would-be-to-diminish/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```