--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fear is what keeps the walls up, so open…" description: "\"“Fear is what keeps the walls up, so open the gate and let what you want, in when you want”\" — Joshua Wright" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b23/joshua-wright-50524_fear_fear-is-what-keeps-the-walls-up-so-open_1766091.jpg" --- # Fear is what keeps the walls up, so open the gate and let… ![“Fear is what keeps the walls up, so open the gate and let what you want, in when you want” quote by Joshua Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b23/joshua-wright-50524_fear_fear-is-what-keeps-the-walls-up-so-open_1766091.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b23/joshua-wright-50524_fear_fear-is-what-keeps-the-walls-up-so-open_1766091.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b23/joshua-wright-50524_fear_fear-is-what-keeps-the-walls-up-so-open_1766091.jpg) > ““Fear is what keeps the walls up, so open the gate and let what you want, in when you want”” [Joshua Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear builds barriers; releasing it allows desires to flow freely. **In simple terms:** Letting go of fear opens possibilities. Key Takeaway Release fear to pursue desires. Themes fear freedom desire Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - creative projects - relationship building - career changes Key Concepts Psychology self‑actualization risk Questions to Reflect On - What fear is protecting you? - How to differentiate healthy caution from limiting fear? A Different Perspective Fear can also protect against harmful risks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Keeps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-keeps-583204/) [Gate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gate/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Keeps Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeps-walls-706636/) [Open Gate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-gate-301580/) [Self confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-confidence/) [Walls Open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walls-open-1737249/) ## Related quotes > [“Behind him, the sheep, left to their own devices, decide to wander through the open gate into the field beyond.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/behind-him-the-sheep-left-to-their-own-devices-decide-to-wander/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“You’d better open the gate soon, or your mother’s going to put you in time-out when she finally gets in the house,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oram/you-d-better-open-the-gate-soon-or-your-mother-s-going-to-put-you-in/) [Kelly Oram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oram/) > [nothing can save you except writing. it keeps the walls from failing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/nothing-can-save-you-except-writing-it-keeps-the-walls-from-failing/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“ADAM AND EVE, sitting in Paradise, chatting: "If we could only open the gate and leave," says Eve. "To go where, my dearest?" "If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/adam-and-eve-sitting-in-paradise-chatting-if-we-could-only-open-the/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [We still got a lot to do, open the gate water the mule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-moore/we-still-got-a-lot-to-do-open-the-gate-water-the-mule/) [Justin Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-moore/) > [Just write, if you open the gate it gets better and better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusty-redmon/just-write-if-you-open-the-gate-it-gets-better-and-better/) [Dusty Redmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusty-redmon/) > [But oh, to him I loved Who loved me not at all,I owe the little open gate That led thru heaven's wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-teasdale/but-oh-to-him-i-loved-who-loved-me-not-at-all-i-owe-the-little-open/) [Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) > [Let me arise and open the gate, / to breathe the wild warm air of the heath...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violet-fane/let-me-arise-and-open-the-gate-to-breathe-the-wild-warm-air-of-the-2/) [Violet Fane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violet-fane/) > [Fear keeps us rooted in the past. Fear of the unknown, fear of abandonment, fear of rejection, fear of not having enough, fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/fear-keeps-us-rooted-in-the-past-fear-of-the-unknown-fear-of/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [I very strongly dislike fear. I always say fear keeps us from living our lives and doing the things we want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ortega/i-very-strongly-dislike-fear-i-always-say-fear-keeps-us-from-living/) [Brian Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ortega/) > [“But after years of Dad saying, ‘Fear keeps you safe, darling, because, as we know, the worst can happen,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-fisher/but-after-years-of-dad-saying-fear-keeps-you-safe-darling-because-as/) [Kerry Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-fisher/) > [“Fear keeps a person alive, Limited fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-dhameliya/fear-keeps-a-person-alive-limited-fear/) [Vijay Dhameliya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-dhameliya/) > [“Fear keeps us frozen; joy keeps us moving! EL”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evinda-lepins/fear-keeps-us-frozen-joy-keeps-us-moving-el/) [Evinda Lepins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evinda-lepins/) > [“Fear is what keeps a man alive in this world of treachery and deceit. Even”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/fear-is-what-keeps-a-man-alive-in-this-world-of-treachery-and-deceit/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [I'm always scared when I fight. But that fear is what keeps me more alert and more focused. It's good to have fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/i-m-always-scared-when-i-fight-but-that-fear-is-what-keeps-me-more/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) ## More by Joshua Wright > [“being stubborn is not a bad thing, it shows determination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wright/being-stubborn-is-not-a-bad-thing-it-shows-determination/) [Joshua Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wright/) > [“in the middle of difficulty lies oportunity”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wright/in-the-middle-of-difficulty-lies-oportunity/) [Joshua Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wright/) > [“For a relationship to work, their needs to be comprimise on both sides”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wright/for-a-relationship-to-work-their-needs-to-be-comprimise-on-both-sides/) [Joshua Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wright/) > [“I would rather be strong at heart than strong at mind”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wright/i-would-rather-be-strong-at-heart-than-strong-at-mind/) [Joshua Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wright/) > [“she gathered a leftover dish of pasta (unheated), a napkin, a glass of ice water, and a loaf of half-eaten French bread into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wright/she-gathered-a-leftover-dish-of-pasta-unheated-a-napkin-a-glass-of/) [Joshua Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wright/) > [“Words are mere tools of the mind”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wright/words-are-mere-tools-of-the-mind/) [Joshua Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wright/) [Explore all 7 Joshua Wright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wright/) ## 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": "“Fear is what keeps the walls up, so open the gate and let what you want, in when you want”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joshua Wright" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wright/fear-is-what-keeps-the-walls-up-so-open-the-gate-and-let-what-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fear" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wright/fear-is-what-keeps-the-walls-up-so-open-the-gate-and-let-what-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b23/joshua-wright-50524_fear_fear-is-what-keeps-the-walls-up-so-open_1766091.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b23/joshua-wright-50524_fear_fear-is-what-keeps-the-walls-up-so-open_1766091.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b23/joshua-wright-50524_fear_fear-is-what-keeps-the-walls-up-so-open_1766091.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Fear is what keeps the walls up, so open the gate and let what you want, in when you want” — Joshua Wright", "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": "Joshua Wright", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wright/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Fear is what keeps the walls...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wright/fear-is-what-keeps-the-walls-up-so-open-the-gate-and-let-what-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wright/fear-is-what-keeps-the-walls-up-so-open-the-gate-and-let-what-you/#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 } } ] } ```