--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most people, they are afraid to believe…" description: "\"“Most people, they are afraid to believe in ghosts. Me, i'm afraid not to believe. Because, well, what then? If there really is nothing else- nowhere t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/john-searles-15962_time_most-people-they-are-afraid-to-believe-i_983248.jpg" --- # Most people, they are afraid to believe in ghosts. Me, i'm… ![“Most people, they are afraid to believe in ghosts. Me, i'm afraid not to believe. Because, well, what then? If there really is nothing else- nowhere to go after this, no way to linger on this plane to finish unsettled business it we must, then that means each moment, each breath, each passing…” quote by John Searles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/john-searles-15962_time_most-people-they-are-afraid-to-believe-i_983248.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/john-searles-15962_time_most-people-they-are-afraid-to-believe-i_983248.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/john-searles-15962_time_most-people-they-are-afraid-to-believe-i_983248.jpg) > ““Most people, they are afraid to believe in ghosts. Me, i'm afraid not to believe. Because, well, what then? If there really is nothing else- nowhere to go after this, no way to linger on this plane to finish unsettled business it we must, then that means each moment, each breath, each passing second, is as ethereal as the wind. It means all we do here on earth- the going and coming, the loving and hating- it is all for naught. So, no. Ghosts don't scare me. But no ghosts- that terrifies me.”” [John Searles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator fears the absence of afterlife, seeing life as fleeting and meaningless without an eternal continuation. **In simple terms:** Fear of non-existence makes life feel empty. Key Takeaway Contemplate meaning beyond mortality. Themes existence death meaning fear Mood existential thoughtful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - grief counseling - philosophical debate - creative writing Key Concepts nihilism spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What gives your life purpose now? - Do you find meaning in temporary experiences? A Different Perspective Belief in an afterlife can provide comfort, countering this fear. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ghost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ghost/) [Ghosts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ghosts/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Do I believe in ghosts? No, but I'm afraid of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-anne-de-vichy-chamrond-marquise-du-deffand/do-i-believe-in-ghosts-no-but-i-m-afraid-of-them/) [Marie Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise du Deffand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-anne-de-vichy-chamrond-marquise-du-deffand/) > [Do I believe in ghosts?...I am prepared to consider evidence and accept it if it satisfies me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-r-james/do-i-believe-in-ghosts-i-am-prepared-to-consider-evidence-and-accept/) [M. R. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-r-james/) > [I don't necessarily not believe in ghosts, but I've never seen a ghost. A ghost has never jumped out and been like, 'Hey, how's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paxton/i-don-t-necessarily-not-believe-in-ghosts-but-i-ve-never-seen-a-ghost/) [Sara Paxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paxton/) > [“I don’t believe in ghosts or magic.” “I don’t either, Mary. But I do know one thing.” “What’s that?” “That this guy is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baldacci/i-don-t-believe-in-ghosts-or-magic-i-don-t-either-mary-but-i-do-know/) [David Baldacci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baldacci/) > [If you don't believe in ghosts, you've never been to a family reunion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/if-you-don-t-believe-in-ghosts-you-ve-never-been-to-a-family-reunion/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [People who believe in ghosts think that dead people can walk through locked doors. Nonsense - they have to use a key like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avery/people-who-believe-in-ghosts-think-that-dead-people-can-walk-through/) [John Avery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avery/) > [I like the influence of the macabre, but I don't believe in ghosts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-like-the-influence-of-the-macabre-but-i-don-t-believe-in-ghosts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“... I don't believe in ghosts - not the scary white sheet, boogie-woogie type of ghost anyway. And yet ... I don't disbelieve either.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-tayleur/i-don-t-believe-in-ghosts-not-the-scary-white-sheet-boogie-woogie/) [Karen Tayleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-tayleur/) > [I don't believe in ghosts or paranormal activity, but one time I think I saw - I might have seen - no, I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-blum/i-don-t-believe-in-ghosts-or-paranormal-activity-but-one-time-i-think/) [Jason Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-blum/) > [I am not scared of ghosts. I don't believe in ghosts or in the supernatural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urmila-matondkar/i-am-not-scared-of-ghosts-i-don-t-believe-in-ghosts-or-in-the/) [Urmila Matondkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urmila-matondkar/) > [I can read the Tarot cards and believe in ghosts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-roberts/i-can-read-the-tarot-cards-and-believe-in-ghosts/) [Mark Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-roberts/) > [I was haunted by a bear attack that happened in Algonquin Park in 1991. The problem was that I don't believe in ghosts, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cameron/i-was-haunted-by-a-bear-attack-that-happened-in-algonquin-park-in/) [Claire Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cameron/) > [I myself am not afraid of ghosts; I am afraid of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilie-autumn/i-myself-am-not-afraid-of-ghosts-i-am-afraid-of-people/) [Emilie Autumn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilie-autumn/) > [Ghost?” St. Vincent shot him an incredulous glance. “Christ. You’re not serious, are you?” "I’m a Gypsy,” Cam replied matter-of-factly. “Of course I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/ghost-st-vincent-shot-him-an-incredulous-glance-christ-you-re-not/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [“I just wanted to say something about him, to shoot his spirit out over the airwaves and see what it will do. Maybe he'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-standiford/i-just-wanted-to-say-something-about-him-to-shoot-his-spirit-out-over/) [Natalie Standiford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-standiford/) ## More by John Searles > [“I’m thinking I don’t know what I’d possibly write about in a journal,” I told him, even though I knew what he intended. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searles/i-m-thinking-i-don-t-know-what-i-d-possibly-write-about-in-a-journal/) [John Searles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searles/) > [I love being able to be a writer. That's what I moved to New York to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searles/i-love-being-able-to-be-a-writer-that-s-what-i-moved-to-new-york-to-be/) [John Searles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searles/) > [Everyone has a ghost story, or at least that's how it has always seemed to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searles/everyone-has-a-ghost-story-or-at-least-that-s-how-it-has-always/) [John Searles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searles/) > [When I first came to New York, I would scream like a girl and run to the other side of the street if there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searles/when-i-first-came-to-new-york-i-would-scream-like-a-girl-and-run-to/) [John Searles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searles/) > [“What I will say is this: each of us is born into this life with a light inside of us. Some, like yours, burn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searles/what-i-will-say-is-this-each-of-us-is-born-into-this-life-with-a/) [John Searles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searles/) > [“You know what can make a person possessed, Sylvie? It's not Satan or Lucifer or any of that nonsense. Do you know what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searles/you-know-what-can-make-a-person-possessed-sylvie-it-s-not-satan-or/) [John Searles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searles/) > [“Darkness cannot put out the light. It can only make God brighter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searles/darkness-cannot-put-out-the-light-it-can-only-make-god-brighter/) [John Searles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searles/) > [No one in my family had ever even gone to college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searles/no-one-in-my-family-had-ever-even-gone-to-college/) [John Searles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searles/) > [I usually don't write at night, but there are times where I wake up at 3 in the morning and write all night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searles/i-usually-don-t-write-at-night-but-there-are-times-where-i-wake-up-at/) [John Searles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searles/) > [“each of us is born into this life with a light inside of us. Some, like yours, burn brighter than others. You don’t see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searles/each-of-us-is-born-into-this-life-with-a-light-inside-of-us-some-like/) [John Searles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searles/) > [My writing is sort of 'Sidney Sheldon meets Anne Tyler.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searles/my-writing-is-sort-of-sidney-sheldon-meets-anne-tyler/) [John Searles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searles/) > [I stayed at 'Cosmo' well beyond my internship, moving up the ranks over some 15 years to become books editor, then brand director, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searles/i-stayed-at-cosmo-well-beyond-my-internship-moving-up-the-ranks-over/) [John Searles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searles/) > [I write in the mornings. I get up every morning at about six in the morning and write until nine, hop in the shower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searles/i-write-in-the-mornings-i-get-up-every-morning-at-about-six-in-the/) [John Searles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searles/) > [I don't write to a genre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searles/i-don-t-write-to-a-genre/) [John Searles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searles/) > [“I learned to love the little things about him, because of all the big things I could not love. No one could. It would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searles/i-learned-to-love-the-little-things-about-him-because-of-all-the-big/) [John Searles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searles/) [Explore all 41 John Searles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searles/) ## More Ghost quotes > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [I was overcome by the Holy Ghost one time, but in a Baptist way. I was six or seven, and I was saved. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/i-was-overcome-by-the-holy-ghost-one-time-but-in-a-baptist-way-i-was/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [Nice is a city of ghosts and specters, but I hope not to become one of them right away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/nice-is-a-city-of-ghosts-and-specters-but-i-hope-not-to-become-one-of/) [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) > [“Who is this ghost ordered into music?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuko-shiraishi/who-is-this-ghost-ordered-into-music/) Kazuko Shiraishi > [The ghost story movie that scared me the most was The Changeling with George C. Scott. I think that's sometimes overlooked, but it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-ghost-story-movie-that-scared-me-the-most-was-the-changeling-with/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Maybe I could be friends with a ghost. I wouldn’t be able to kill him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/maybe-i-could-be-friends-with-a-ghost-i-wouldn-t-be-able-to-kill-him/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [I love ghost stories, I love to read them, and I love the idea of being haunted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-perks/i-love-ghost-stories-i-love-to-read-them-and-i-love-the-idea-of-being/) [Micah Perks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-perks/) > [The Holy Ghost is the greatest guarantor of inward peace in our unstable world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/the-holy-ghost-is-the-greatest-guarantor-of-inward-peace-in-our/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [I saw the gooseflesh on my skin. I did not know what made it. I was not cold. Had a ghost passed over? No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-saw-the-gooseflesh-on-my-skin-i-did-not-know-what-made-it-i-was-not/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [She knows not loves that kissed her She knows not where. Art thou the ghost, my sister, White sister there, Am I the ghost,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/she-knows-not-loves-that-kissed-her-she-knows-not-where-art-thou-the/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [Pity the planet, all joy gone from this sweet volcanic cone; peace to our children when they fall in small war on the heel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lowell/pity-the-planet-all-joy-gone-from-this-sweet-volcanic-cone-peace-to/) [Robert Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lowell/) > [What the Church needs to-day is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-the-church-needs-to-day-is-not-more-machinery-or-better-not-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Do I believe in ghosts?...I am prepared to consider evidence and accept it if it satisfies me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-r-james/do-i-believe-in-ghosts-i-am-prepared-to-consider-evidence-and-accept/) [M. R. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-r-james/) > [Just live that life. It doesn't matter whether it is life or hell, life of the hungry ghost, life of the animal, it's okay;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taizan-maezumi/just-live-that-life-it-doesn-t-matter-whether-it-is-life-or-hell-life/) [Taizan Maezumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taizan-maezumi/) [Browse all 2,175 Ghost quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ghost/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Most people, they are afraid to believe in ghosts. Me, i'm afraid not to believe. Because, well, what then? If there really is nothing else- nowhere to go after this, no way to linger on this plane to finish unsettled business it we must, then that means each moment, each breath, each passing second, is as ethereal as the wind. It means all we do here on earth- the going and coming, the loving and hating- it is all for naught. So, no. 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