--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is folly to anticipate evils, and…" description: "\"It is folly to anticipate evils, and madness to create imaginary ones.\" — John Adams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/john-adams-529_anticipate_it-is-folly-to-anticipate-evils-and-madn_183900.jpg" --- # It is folly to anticipate evils, and madness to create… ![“It is folly to anticipate evils, and madness to create imaginary ones.” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/john-adams-529_anticipate_it-is-folly-to-anticipate-evils-and-madn_183900.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/john-adams-529_anticipate_it-is-folly-to-anticipate-evils-and-madn_183900.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/john-adams-529_anticipate_it-is-folly-to-anticipate-evils-and-madn_183900.jpg) > “It is folly to anticipate evils, and madness to create imaginary ones.” [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fearing future evils and inventing imaginary ones is foolish and mad. **In simple terms:** Avoid fearing imagined evils; focus on reality. Key Takeaway Stay grounded, avoid needless fear. Themes philosophy psychology anxiety reality wisdom Mood cautious reflective Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - decision making - stress management - planning - leadership Key Concepts cognitive bias fear management critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What imagined fears dominate your thoughts? - How can you differentiate real vs imagined risks? A Different Perspective Excessive caution may ignore real threats. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Folly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folly/) [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) ## Related quotes > [“To defeat Fortune, men must anticipate such evils before they arise, and take prudent steps to avoid them. When the waters have already risen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/to-defeat-fortune-men-must-anticipate-such-evils-before-they-arise/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [As I have always held it a crime to anticipate evils, I will believe it a good comfortable road until I am compelled to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meriwether-lewis/as-i-have-always-held-it-a-crime-to-anticipate-evils-i-will-believe-2/) [Meriwether Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meriwether-lewis/) > [“As I have always held it a crime to anticipate evils I will believe it a good comfortable road untill I am conpelled to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-e-ambrose/as-i-have-always-held-it-a-crime-to-anticipate-evils-i-will-believe/) [Stephen E. Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-e-ambrose/) > [Prompting children to create imaginary worlds is hugely important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-hancock/prompting-children-to-create-imaginary-worlds-is-hugely-important/) [Sheila Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-hancock/) > [I like to create imaginary characters and events around a real historical situation. I want readers to feel: OK, this probably didn't happen, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/i-like-to-create-imaginary-characters-and-events-around-a-real/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [When I was a kid I loved to read, but I didn't write and I didn't create imaginary worlds. So, if one student walks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/when-i-was-a-kid-i-loved-to-read-but-i-didn-t-write-and-i-didn-t/) [Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/) > [“It is the fate of all authors to create imaginary friends, and lose them in the course of art. Nor is this the full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulette-jiles/it-is-the-fate-of-all-authors-to-create-imaginary-friends-and-lose/) [Paulette Jiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulette-jiles/) > [“Writers just play out their fantasies in their books. They are often very unstable, tricky people, Bertie. Writers are usually very bad at real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/writers-just-play-out-their-fantasies-in-their-books-they-are-often/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [I started writing because I decided I was too old to play pretend in the backyard. Then I found that I could create those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-started-writing-because-i-decided-i-was-too-old-to-play-pretend-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Fiction is not imagination. It is what anticipates imagination by giving it the form of reality. This is quite opposite to our own natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/fiction-is-not-imagination-it-is-what-anticipates-imagination-by/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [Haven't you noticed that we women daydream infinitely less than you men? We can't anticipate pleasure in our imagination or keep suffering out our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-peter-jacobsen/haven-t-you-noticed-that-we-women-daydream-infinitely-less-than-you/) [Jens Peter Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-peter-jacobsen/) > [The public negotiations and secret intrigues of the English (Jews) and the French (Jews) have been employed for centuries in every court and country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-public-negotiations-and-secret-intrigues-of-the-english-jews-and/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) ## More by John Adams > [Historically, usury was defined as any interest whatever on an unproductive loan.Our whole banking system I have ever abhorred, I continue to abhor, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/historically-usury-was-defined-as-any-interest-whatever-on-an/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“Daughter! Get you an honest Man for a Husband, and keep him honest. No matter whether he is rich, provided he be independent. Regard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/daughter-get-you-an-honest-man-for-a-husband-and-keep-him-honest-no/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-general-principles-on-which-the-fathers-achieved-independence/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [We may... affirm that the balance of power in a society accompanies the balance of property in land. The only possible way, then, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/we-may-affirm-that-the-balance-of-power-in-a-society-accompanies-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“The longer I live, the more I read, the more patiently I think, and the more anxiously I inquire, the less I seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-longer-i-live-the-more-i-read-the-more-patiently-i-think-and-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/but-what-do-we-mean-by-the-american-revolution-do-we-mean-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own aprobation. But upon the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/upon-common-theaters-indeed-the-applause-of-the-audience-is-of-more/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [There are only two creatures of value on the face of the earth: those with the commitment, and those who require the commitment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/there-are-only-two-creatures-of-value-on-the-face-of-the-earth-those/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [ I will insist the Hebrews have \[contributed\] more to civilize men than any other nation. If I was an atheist and believed in blind… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-will-insist-the-hebrews-have-contributed-more-to-civilize-men-than/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people; and not for the profit, honor, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/government-is-instituted-for-the-common-good-for-the-protection/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Make Things rather than Persons the subjects of conversations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/make-things-rather-than-persons-the-subjects-of-conversations/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [During the whole time I sat with him in Congress, I never heard him utter three sentences together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/during-the-whole-time-i-sat-with-him-in-congress-i-never-heard-him/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Religion and virtue are the only foundations, not of republicanism and of all free government, but of social felicity under all government and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/religion-and-virtue-are-the-only-foundations-not-of-republicanism-and/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The universal object and idol of men of letters is reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-universal-object-and-idol-of-men-of-letters-is-reputation/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [I consider a decent respect for Christianity among the best recommendations for public service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-consider-a-decent-respect-for-christianity-among-the-best/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) [Explore all 495 John Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) ## More Anticipate quotes > [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [I like to do everything you can possibly do before you go into rehearsal, because once we are in rehearsal or on the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-like-to-do-everything-you-can-possibly-do-before-you-go-into/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [The problem with merely writing so that you can be understood is that the wrong people, in advancing their agendas, are only too ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-dembski/the-problem-with-merely-writing-so-that-you-can-be-understood-is-that/) [William A. Dembski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-dembski/) > [I am curious to know what would happen if art were suddenly seen for what it is, namely, exact information of how to rearrange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/i-am-curious-to-know-what-would-happen-if-art-were-suddenly-seen-for/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [The very best financial presentation is one that's well thought out and anticipates any questions... answering them in advance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/the-very-best-financial-presentation-is-one-that-s-well-thought-out/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [What's interesting about art in public spaces is that the public really sort of takes over and uses it in ways that you didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresita-fernandez/what-s-interesting-about-art-in-public-spaces-is-that-the-public/) [Teresita Fernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresita-fernandez/) > [The great mistake is to anticipate the outcome of the engagement; you ought not to be thinking of whether it ends in victory or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-great-mistake-is-to-anticipate-the-outcome-of-the-engagement-you/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [If you don't sow your field what harvest other than thorns and weeds can you anticipate?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-don-t-sow-your-field-what-harvest-other-than-thorns-and-weeds/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Leaders' careers will usually be determined by their handling of one or two critical events that no one could possibly anticipate or plan for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/leaders-careers-will-usually-be-determined-by-their-handling-of-one/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [I wish I could anticipate some of the stories and lies that will be told. It's going to be great to get everyone together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-conley/i-wish-i-could-anticipate-some-of-the-stories-and-lies-that-will-be/) Larry Conley > [The two revolutions, I mean the annual revolutions of the declination and of the centre of the Earth, are not completely equal; that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolaus-copernicus/the-two-revolutions-i-mean-the-annual-revolutions-of-the-declination/) [Nicolaus Copernicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolaus-copernicus/) > [In two or three hundred years life on earth will be unimaginably beautiful, astounding. Man needs such a life and if it hasn't yetappeared,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/in-two-or-three-hundred-years-life-on-earth-will-be-unimaginably/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [In my own work, I've tried to anticipate what's coming over the horizon, to hasten its arrival, and to apply it to people's lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/in-my-own-work-i-ve-tried-to-anticipate-what-s-coming-over-the/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) Browse all 458 Anticipate quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is folly to anticipate evils, and madness to create imaginary ones.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Adams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/it-is-folly-to-anticipate-evils-and-madness-to-create-imaginary-ones/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anticipate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/it-is-folly-to-anticipate-evils-and-madness-to-create-imaginary-ones/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/john-adams-529_anticipate_it-is-folly-to-anticipate-evils-and-madn_183900.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/john-adams-529_anticipate_it-is-folly-to-anticipate-evils-and-madn_183900.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/john-adams-529_anticipate_it-is-folly-to-anticipate-evils-and-madn_183900.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is folly to anticipate evils, and madness to create imaginary ones.” — John Adams", "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": "John Adams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is folly to anticipate evils,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/it-is-folly-to-anticipate-evils-and-madness-to-create-imaginary-ones/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/it-is-folly-to-anticipate-evils-and-madness-to-create-imaginary-ones/#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 } } ] } ```