--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We fear what we don't understand, because…" description: "\"“We fear what we don't understand, because when we come to understand what it is we fear, we are forced to except it and that's that scariest thought o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/keith-hampshire-106024_fear_we-fear-what-we-don-t-understand-because_1184953.jpg" --- # We fear what we don't understand, because when we come to… ![“We fear what we don't understand, because when we come to understand what it is we fear, we are forced to except it and that's that scariest thought of all.” quote by Keith Hampshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/keith-hampshire-106024_fear_we-fear-what-we-don-t-understand-because_1184953.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/keith-hampshire-106024_fear_we-fear-what-we-don-t-understand-because_1184953.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/keith-hampshire-106024_fear_we-fear-what-we-don-t-understand-because_1184953.jpg) > ““We fear what we don't understand, because when we come to understand what it is we fear, we are forced to except it and that's that scariest thought of all.”” Keith Hampshire ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unfamiliar concepts can become terrifying when fully understood, forcing acceptance of uncomfortable truths. **In simple terms:** Understanding can make fear worse. Key Takeaway Embrace knowledge to reduce fear. Themes fear understanding acceptance psychology growth Mood anxious thoughtful Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal crises - ethical dilemmas - learning new ideas Key Concepts cognitive dissonance existential dread self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - How does deeper knowledge change your perception of fear? - What truths are you avoiding? A Different Perspective Fear may persist despite understanding, especially if it challenges core beliefs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ## Related quotes > [The scariest thought in the world is that someday I'll wake up and realize I've been sleepwalking through my life: under-appreciating the people I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/the-scariest-thought-in-the-world-is-that-someday-i-ll-wake-up-and-2/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [The scariest thought in the world is that someday I'll wake up and realize I've been sleepwalking through my life: underappreciating the people I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/the-scariest-thought-in-the-world-is-that-someday-i-ll-wake-up-and/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“It is important you understand how fear affects you and how it drives human behavior so you can start to see situations and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/it-is-important-you-understand-how-fear-affects-you-and-how-it-drives/) [Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/) > [“They say knowledge is power. And it is! Once you better understand what you fear, you can face it head-on with confidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-vail/they-say-knowledge-is-power-and-it-is-once-you-better-understand-what/) [Courtney Vail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-vail/) > [“Everyone freaks out. Sometimes the best we can do with fear is befriend it. Expect it and understand that fear will always reappear. Eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/everyone-freaks-out-sometimes-the-best-we-can-do-with-fear-is/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [You know, people understand fear and opportunity. It may look different, but it's really the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/majora-carter/you-know-people-understand-fear-and-opportunity-it-may-look-different/) [Majora Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/majora-carter/) > [Boxing is a sport of self-control. You must understand fear so you can manipulate it. Fear is like fire. You can make it work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/boxing-is-a-sport-of-self-control-you-must-understand-fear-so-you-can/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [It is not easy to be the best. You must have the courage to bear pain, disappointment, and heartbreak. You must learn how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-skelton-erde/it-is-not-easy-to-be-the-best-you-must-have-the-courage-to-bear-pain/) Betty Skelton Erde > [Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-curie/nothing-in-life-is-to-be-feared-it-is-only-to-be-understood-now-is/) [Marie Curie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-curie/) > [To understand your fear is the beginning of really seeing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/to-understand-your-fear-is-the-beginning-of-really-seeing/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [Some fear flutter because they do not understand it. And some fear it because they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-von-karman/some-fear-flutter-because-they-do-not-understand-it-and-some-fear-it/) [Theodore von Karman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-von-karman/) > [“that which we cannot understand, we fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-gordon/that-which-we-cannot-understand-we-fear/) [H.D. Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-d-gordon/) > [“what people don’t understand, they fear and what they fear, they hate”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-fail/what-people-don-t-understand-they-fear-and-what-they-fear-they-hate/) C.A. Fail > [Consciously or not, we are all on a quest for answers, trying to learn the lessons of life. We grapple with fear and guilt.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/consciously-or-not-we-are-all-on-a-quest-for-answers-trying-to-learn/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [“To understand fear is to possess a key, But the door to the place of light has rusty hinges.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-newigton/to-understand-fear-is-to-possess-a-key-but-the-door-to-the-place-of/) Adrian Newigton ## More by Keith Hampshire > [“The longer we hold secretes the darker they become”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-hampshire/the-longer-we-hold-secretes-the-darker-they-become/) Keith Hampshire Explore all 2 Keith Hampshire quotes ## 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 > [“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 fear what we don't understand, because when we come to understand what it is we fear, we are forced to except it and that's that scariest thought of all.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Keith Hampshire" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-hampshire/we-fear-what-we-don-t-understand-because-when-we-come-to-understand/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fear" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-hampshire/we-fear-what-we-don-t-understand-because-when-we-come-to-understand/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/keith-hampshire-106024_fear_we-fear-what-we-don-t-understand-because_1184953.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/keith-hampshire-106024_fear_we-fear-what-we-don-t-understand-because_1184953.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/keith-hampshire-106024_fear_we-fear-what-we-don-t-understand-because_1184953.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We fear what we don't understand, because when we come to understand what it is we fear, we are forced to…” — Keith Hampshire", "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": "Keith Hampshire", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-hampshire/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“We fear what we don't understand,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-hampshire/we-fear-what-we-don-t-understand-because-when-we-come-to-understand/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-hampshire/we-fear-what-we-don-t-understand-because-when-we-come-to-understand/#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 } } ] } ```