--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All that is bad and dreaded is projected…" description: "\"“All that is bad and dreaded is projected into the other, and all the anxiety is seen as the product of external attack rather than one's own subjectiv..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0d/jessica-benjamin-70705_anxiety_all-that-is-bad-and-dreaded-is-projected_2176804.jpg" --- # All that is bad and dreaded is projected into the other… ![“All that is bad and dreaded is projected into the other, and all the anxiety is seen as the product of external attack rather than one's own subjective state . . . [which] the fear of the other's omnipotence as well as the need to retaliate by asserting one's own omnipotence.” quote by Jessica Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0d/jessica-benjamin-70705_anxiety_all-that-is-bad-and-dreaded-is-projected_2176804.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0d/jessica-benjamin-70705_anxiety_all-that-is-bad-and-dreaded-is-projected_2176804.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0d/jessica-benjamin-70705_anxiety_all-that-is-bad-and-dreaded-is-projected_2176804.jpg) > ““All that is bad and dreaded is projected into the other, and all the anxiety is seen as the product of external attack rather than one's own subjective state . . . \[which\] the fear of the other's omnipotence as well as the need to retaliate by asserting one's own omnipotence.”” [Jessica Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-benjamin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Anxiety often feels like an external attack, but it actually stems from internal perceptions of power and vulnerability, prompting a desire to assert dominance. **In simple terms:** Anxiety is internal, disguised as external threat. Key Takeaway Recognize and address inner fears directly. Themes psychology power dynamics self-awareness Mood analytical thoughtful Type psychological philosophical When to use this quote - therapy sessions - conflict resolution - personal reflection Key Concepts subjective anxiety interpersonal relations Questions to Reflect On - What internal beliefs fuel your anxiety? - How can you balance power without retaliation? A Different Perspective Ignoring the internal source can perpetuate relational conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Anxiety Seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety-seen-4684918/) [Dreaded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreaded/) [Dreaded Projected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreaded-projected-4684919/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Omnipotence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-omnipotence-4684916/) [Projected Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/projected-anxiety-4684917/) ## Related quotes > [“Guenever began to breathe through her nose. She was feeling as if there were two red thumbs behind her eyeballs, trying to push them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-white/guenever-began-to-breathe-through-her-nose-she-was-feeling-as-if/) [T.H. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-h-white/) > [A thing may be dreaded as long as it has not overtaken you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-thing-may-be-dreaded-as-long-as-it-has-not-overtaken-you/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [Frankly, I have always dreaded writing - there always seemed to be pain involved, unpleasant self-examination and a lot of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/frankly-i-have-always-dreaded-writing-there-always-seemed-to-be-pain/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [After years in white theaters I dreaded working in colored houses. 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Be afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/my-dad-was-a-presbyterian-minister-yes-i-am-one-of-those-dreaded-p-k/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“The sea of night was at low tide. That dreaded zone where the worst that has happened to you resurfaces to assail you once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chantal-thomas/the-sea-of-night-was-at-low-tide-that-dreaded-zone-where-the-worst/) [Chantal Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chantal-thomas/) > [Okay, using the dreaded middle name is not the best way to forge a bond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-brody/okay-using-the-dreaded-middle-name-is-not-the-best-way-to-forge-a-bond/) [Adam Brody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-brody/) > [“There it was, that dreaded word: love. I did not want to be loved, that was the burden. Unwanted love was the greatest burden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-george-the-autobiography-of-henry-viii/there-it-was-that-dreaded-word-love-i-did-not-want-to-be-loved-that/) [Margaret George The Autobiography of Henry VIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-george-the-autobiography-of-henry-viii/) > [In 2006, I woke up every morning and dreaded the ballpark. I knew how difficult it was to even prepare my body to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabe-kapler/in-2006-i-woke-up-every-morning-and-dreaded-the-ballpark-i-knew-how/) [Gabe Kapler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabe-kapler/) > [My parents dreaded the fact that I was changing my life to do this, but I just kept doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/my-parents-dreaded-the-fact-that-i-was-changing-my-life-to-do-this/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) ## More by Jessica Benjamin > [ “\[T\]he psychoanalytic process should be understood as occurring between subjects rather than within the individual. Mental life is seen from an intersubjective perspective. Although… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-benjamin/t-he-psychoanalytic-process-should-be-understood-as-occurring-between/) [Jessica Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-benjamin/) > [“Beauty belongs to the beloved who returns the gaze, in whose eyes we see the sun. But in this . . . beauty, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-benjamin/beauty-belongs-to-the-beloved-who-returns-the-gaze-in-whose-eyes-we/) [Jessica Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-benjamin/) > [ “In the most common fantasy of ideal love, \[...\], a woman can only unleash her desire in the hands of a man whom she… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-benjamin/in-the-most-common-fantasy-of-ideal-love-a-woman-can-only-unleash-her/) [Jessica Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-benjamin/) [Explore all 4 Jessica Benjamin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-benjamin/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. 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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. 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