--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An anxious expression spread over his…" description: "\"“An anxious expression spread over his face as he thought to himself that the time was coming when he would have to give up this comfort, and then that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b61/jean-rhys-2447_anxiety_an-anxious-expression-spread-over-his-fa_2996943.jpg" --- # An anxious expression spread over his face as he thought… ![“An anxious expression spread over his face as he thought to himself that the time was coming when he would have to give up this comfort, and then that comfort, until God knew what would be the end of it all. In this way he was an imaginative man, and when these fits of foreboding overcame him he…” quote by Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b61/jean-rhys-2447_anxiety_an-anxious-expression-spread-over-his-fa_2996943.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b61/jean-rhys-2447_anxiety_an-anxious-expression-spread-over-his-fa_2996943.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b61/jean-rhys-2447_anxiety_an-anxious-expression-spread-over-his-fa_2996943.jpg) > ““An anxious expression spread over his face as he thought to himself that the time was coming when he would have to give up this comfort, and then that comfort, until God knew what would be the end of it all. In this way he was an imaginative man, and when these fits of foreboding overcame him he genuinely forgot that only a succession of highly improbable catastrophes could reduce him to the penury he so feared.”” [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear of future loss can dominate thoughts, leading to imaginative escape but also to paralyzing dread. **In simple terms:** Fear of loss haunts. Key Takeaway Acknowledge fear. Themes anxiety faith imagination Mood melancholic thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal crises - creative writing - spiritual contemplation Key Concepts existential dread spiritual struggle Questions to Reflect On - What comforts you in uncertainty? - How do you balance imagination with reality? A Different Perspective Faith may not resolve existential dread. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Comfort is your biggest trap and coming out of comfort zone your biggest challenge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manoj-arora/comfort-is-your-biggest-trap-and-coming-out-of-comfort-zone-your/) [Manoj Arora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manoj-arora/) > [“Coming out of your comfort zone is tough in the beginning, chaotic in the middle, and awesome in the end...because in the end, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manoj-arora/coming-out-of-your-comfort-zone-is-tough-in-the-beginning-chaotic-in/) [Manoj Arora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manoj-arora/) > [“If God had let me come at once, as I prayed, then everything would have been different, I should only have had a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/if-god-had-let-me-come-at-once-as-i-prayed-then-everything-would-have/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [No affliction or temptation, no guilt nor power of sin, no wounded spirit nor terrified conscience, should induce us to despair of help and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-scott/no-affliction-or-temptation-no-guilt-nor-power-of-sin-no-wounded/) Thomas Scott > [Quiet and sincere sympathy is often the most welcome and efficient consolation to the afflicted. Said a wise man to one in deep sorrow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/quiet-and-sincere-sympathy-is-often-the-most-welcome-and-efficient/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [When God permits trials, He also provides comfort. God is always with you, everything will work out fine. Keep the faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-god-permits-trials-he-also-provides-comfort-god-is-always-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God Offers Comfort to All 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-offers-comfort-to-all-3-all-praise-to-god-the-father-of-our-lord/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If we want to be comforted, we must make up our minds to believe every single solitary word of comfort God has ever spoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-whitall-smith/if-we-want-to-be-comforted-we-must-make-up-our-minds-to-believe-every/) [Hannah Whitall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-whitall-smith/) > [Look whether it be indifferently, as well for sins secret as open, what you find to be your best cordials to comfort you, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hooker/look-whether-it-be-indifferently-as-well-for-sins-secret-as-open-what/) [Thomas Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hooker/) > [It is the black work of an ungodly man or an atheist, that God is not in all his thoughts. What comfort can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-charnock/it-is-the-black-work-of-an-ungodly-man-or-an-atheist-that-god-is-not/) [Stephen Charnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-charnock/) > [God is more interested in your character than your comfort. God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/god-is-more-interested-in-your-character-than-your-comfort-god-is/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [All consolation that does not come from God is but desolation; when the soul has learned to receive no comfort but in God only,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/all-consolation-that-does-not-come-from-god-is-but-desolation-when/) [Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte Guyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/) > [“...I am for going on, and venturing my eternal state with Christ, whether I have comfort here or no; if God doth not come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/i-am-for-going-on-and-venturing-my-eternal-state-with-christ-whether/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“Life is comfortable when you separate yourself from people who are different from you. That epitomizes what my life was like: characterized by comfort.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/life-is-comfortable-when-you-separate-yourself-from-people-who-are/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Worship is not about personality, temperament, personal limitations, church background, or comfort. It is about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wimber/worship-is-not-about-personality-temperament-personal-limitations/) [John Wimber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wimber/) ## More by Jean Rhys > [Of course she had some pathetic illusions about herself or she would not be able to go on living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/of-course-she-had-some-pathetic-illusions-about-herself-or-she-would/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [As soon as I turned the key I saw it hanging, the color of fire and sunset. the colour of flamboyant flowers. ‘If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/as-soon-as-i-turned-the-key-i-saw-it-hanging-the-color-of-fire-and/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [Human beings are struggling, and so they are egoists. But it's wrong to say that they are wholy cruel - it's a deformed view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/human-beings-are-struggling-and-so-they-are-egoists-but-it-s-wrong-to/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [“THe room was large and low-ceilinged, the striped wallpaper faded to inoffensiveness. A huge dark wardrobe faced a huge dark bed. The rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/the-room-was-large-and-low-ceilinged-the-striped-wallpaper-faded-to/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [There is no doubt that running away on a fresh, blue morning can be exhilarating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/there-is-no-doubt-that-running-away-on-a-fresh-blue-morning-can-be/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [Blot out the moon, Pull down the stars. Love in the dark, for we're for the dark So soon, so soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/blot-out-the-moon-pull-down-the-stars-love-in-the-dark-for-we-re-for/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [“But in the daytime it was all right. And when you'd had a drink you knew it was the best way to live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/but-in-the-daytime-it-was-all-right-and-when-you-d-had-a-drink-you/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [She’ll have no lover, for I don’t want her and she’ll see no other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/she-ll-have-no-lover-for-i-don-t-want-her-and-she-ll-see-no-other/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [Everything tender and melancholy - as life is sometimes, just for one moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/everything-tender-and-melancholy-as-life-is-sometimes-just-for-one/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [“have spunks and do battle for yourself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/have-spunks-and-do-battle-for-yourself/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [“You are walking along a road peacefully. You trip. You fall into blackness. That's the past - or perhaps the future. And you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/you-are-walking-along-a-road-peacefully-you-trip-you-fall-into/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [“She spent the foggy day in endless, aimless walking, for it seemed to her that if she moved quickly enough she would escape the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/she-spent-the-foggy-day-in-endless-aimless-walking-for-it-seemed-to/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [But they never last, the golden days. And it can be sad, the sun in the afternoon, can't it? Yes, it can be sad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/but-they-never-last-the-golden-days-and-it-can-be-sad-the-sun-in-the/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [She could give herself up to the written word as naturally as a good dancer to music or a fine swimmer to water. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/she-could-give-herself-up-to-the-written-word-as-naturally-as-a-good/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [“There is no control over memory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/there-is-no-control-over-memory/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) [Explore all 165 Jean Rhys quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“An anxious expression spread over his face as he thought to himself that the time was coming when he would have to give up this comfort, and then that comfort, until God knew what would be the end of it all. In this way he was an imaginative man, and when these fits of foreboding overcame him he genuinely forgot that only a succession of highly improbable catastrophes could reduce him to the penury he so feared.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean Rhys" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/an-anxious-expression-spread-over-his-face-as-he-thought-to-himself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxiety" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/an-anxious-expression-spread-over-his-face-as-he-thought-to-himself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b61/jean-rhys-2447_anxiety_an-anxious-expression-spread-over-his-fa_2996943.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b61/jean-rhys-2447_anxiety_an-anxious-expression-spread-over-his-fa_2996943.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b61/jean-rhys-2447_anxiety_an-anxious-expression-spread-over-his-fa_2996943.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“An anxious expression spread over his face as he thought to himself that the time was coming when he would…” — Jean Rhys", "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": "Jean Rhys", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“An anxious expression spread over his...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/an-anxious-expression-spread-over-his-face-as-he-thought-to-himself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/an-anxious-expression-spread-over-his-face-as-he-thought-to-himself/#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 } } ] } ```