--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We let fear rule us and guide us, and…" description: "\"“We let fear rule us and guide us, and that's never the way to win. Never. A long time ago a great man once said that \"we have nothing to fear but fear..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/656/jonathan-maberry-2912_fear_we-let-fear-rule-us-and-guide-us-and-tha_852715.jpg" --- # We let fear rule us and guide us, and that's never the way… ![“We let fear rule us and guide us, and that's never the way to win. Never. A long time ago a great man once said that "we have nothing to fear but fear itself." That was never truer than during First Night. It was fear that caused people to panic and abandon defenses. It was fear that made them…” quote by Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/656/jonathan-maberry-2912_fear_we-let-fear-rule-us-and-guide-us-and-tha_852715.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/656/jonathan-maberry-2912_fear_we-let-fear-rule-us-and-guide-us-and-tha_852715.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/656/jonathan-maberry-2912_fear_we-let-fear-rule-us-and-guide-us-and-tha_852715.jpg) > ““We let fear rule us and guide us, and that's never the way to win. Never. A long time ago a great man once said that "we have nothing to fear but fear itself." That was never truer than during First Night. It was fear that caused people to panic and abandon defenses. It was fear that made them squabble instead of working together. It was fear that inspired them to take actions they would never have taken if they'd given it a minute's more cool thought.”” [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear dominates decision‑making, leading to panic, division, and missed opportunities; overcoming fear requires deliberate calm and cooperation. **In simple terms:** Fear blocks good choices and teamwork. Key Takeaway Pause, think, and act together. Themes fear leadership cooperation decisionmaking Mood tense reflective Type advisory motivational When to use this quote - emergency response - team projects - personal crises - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology group dynamics cognitive control Questions to Reflect On - How can you create space for calm in a crisis? - What strategies turn fear into constructive energy? A Different Perspective Fear can be useful for alertness but may paralyze rational action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Caused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-caused-313416/) [Fear Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-fear/) [Fear Itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-itself/) [Fear Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-rule-670357/) [Fear Squabble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-squabble-767961/) [Great man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) [Let Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-fear/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Long time ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time-ago/) [Working together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-together/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not going to let fear rule my life. I'd rather be able to know that I've made a choice that's right for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-matarazzo/i-m-not-going-to-let-fear-rule-my-life-i-d-rather-be-able-to-know/) [Heather Matarazzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-matarazzo/) > [I was kind of a scaredy-cat as a kid, and I made a very deliberate decision at some point that I was not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/i-was-kind-of-a-scaredy-cat-as-a-kid-and-i-made-a-very-deliberate/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [Don't let fear rule your life. Live one day at a time, and never be afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-faye-bakker/don-t-let-fear-rule-your-life-live-one-day-at-a-time-and-never-be/) [Tammy Faye Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-faye-bakker/) > [We are not meant to fear anything, the only thing we should fear is fear itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-kermis/we-are-not-meant-to-fear-anything-the-only-thing-we-should-fear-is/) [Samuel Kermis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-kermis/) > [The only fear is fear itself, so get rid of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/the-only-fear-is-fear-itself-so-get-rid-of-it/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [“Nothing to fear but fear itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grant/nothing-to-fear-but-fear-itself/) [Michael Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grant/) > [My biggest fear is fear itself. I never want to be afraid of doing something I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anushka-sharma/my-biggest-fear-is-fear-itself-i-never-want-to-be-afraid-of-doing/) [Anushka Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anushka-sharma/) > [I'd say my greatest fear is fear itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-orton/i-d-say-my-greatest-fear-is-fear-itself/) [Beth Orton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-orton/) > [Fear not. For fear itself is fed by fear, and all fears pass. Did no one tell you so? Come take my hand, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/fear-not-for-fear-itself-is-fed-by-fear-and-all-fears-pass-did-no-one/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [When I was a kid, FDR on the radio said, 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself.' 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This is what I love about Roosevelt's quote, "There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hillcoat/fear-shuts-off-possibilities-the-first-thing-that-kicks-in-when-you/) [John Hillcoat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hillcoat/) > [“It's not that there is nothing real to fear-- it is that fear itself is not rationally based-- it's projecting into the future-- as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shellen-lubin/it-s-not-that-there-is-nothing-real-to-fear-it-is-that-fear-itself-is/) [Shellen Lubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shellen-lubin/) > [There is nothing to fear but fear itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-nothing-to-fear-but-fear-itself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There is nothing to fear except fear itself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-l-engle/there-is-nothing-to-fear-except-fear-itself/) [Madeline L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-l-engle/) > [The only thing we have to fear is fear itself -- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-nameless-unreasoning/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Jonathan Maberry > [“Maybe you should go make that call again. Ask very specifically how much of who's ass needs to be kissed here. I'm pretty sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/maybe-you-should-go-make-that-call-again-ask-very-specifically-how/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [“Lilah growled low in her throat, grabbed his shirt with both hands, and hauled him toward her. Into a kiss that was fierce and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/lilah-growled-low-in-her-throat-grabbed-his-shirt-with-both-hands-and/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [Suddenly all those careful preparations disintegrated as predators far more dangerous than the walking dead proved what all wise killers already knew: that nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/suddenly-all-those-careful-preparations-disintegrated-as-predators/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [“Suddenly we were in outer space. 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Some kind of Captain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/there-were-more-of-them-out-there-more-walkers-and-i-was-being-asked/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [There are moments that define a person's whole life. Moments in which everything they are and everything they may possibly become balance on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/there-are-moments-that-define-a-person-s-whole-life-moments-in-which/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [“Leaving is never easy,” said Tom. “Even when you know you have to go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/leaving-is-never-easy-said-tom-even-when-you-know-you-have-to-go/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [UNMARKED is both gorgeous and hideous. A frightening and disturbing tale spun with great beauty. Absolutely riveting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/unmarked-is-both-gorgeous-and-hideous-a-frightening-and-disturbing/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [“Benny took a steadying breath and let it out slowly. "Nix, I do understand what you're going through. I'm going through it too." "It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/benny-took-a-steadying-breath-and-let-it-out-slowly-nix-i-do/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [But sometimes shame is a more powerful engine than rage. Like rage, it burns hot; and like rage it tends to consume its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/but-sometimes-shame-is-a-more-powerful-engine-than-rage-like-rage-it/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) > [“Denial is stupid. We're fighting the living dead. Would you prefer we call them 'undead citizens'?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-maberry/denial-is-stupid-we-re-fighting-the-living-dead-would-you-prefer-we/) [Jonathan Maberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) [Explore all 138 Jonathan Maberry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-maberry/) ## More Fear quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/) [Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/) > [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [What an incredible drug fear is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/what-an-incredible-drug-fear-is/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“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/) > [“We all know how the thing we secretly fear is not a secret at all but the open and eternal thing that predicts its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/we-all-know-how-the-thing-we-secretly-fear-is-not-a-secret-at-all-but/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/) [Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [“Snip off the little worries and expressions of worry” like little branches atop a tall tree.28 If you are truly worried, sharing your concerns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/snip-off-the-little-worries-and-expressions-of-worry-like-little/) [Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/) > [“Fear and desire for pleasure. Aggressiveness comes out of fear, predominantly, and sexuality predominantly out of the other. But they mix in the middle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/fear-and-desire-for-pleasure-aggressiveness-comes-out-of-fear/) [Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/) > [“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/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/) [Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) [Browse all 35,569 Fear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We let fear rule us and guide us, and that's never the way to win. Never. A long time ago a great man once said that \"we have nothing to fear but fear itself.\" That was never truer than during First Night. It was fear that caused people to panic and abandon defenses. It was fear that made them squabble instead of working together. 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