--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fear is a terrible thing. It makes you do…" description: "\"Fear is a terrible thing. It makes you do awful things.\" — Kirk Douglas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e14/kirk-douglas-4420_awful_fear-is-a-terrible-thing-it-makes-you-do_1876167.jpg" --- # Fear is a terrible thing. It makes you do awful things. ![“Fear is a terrible thing. It makes you do awful things.” quote by Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e14/kirk-douglas-4420_awful_fear-is-a-terrible-thing-it-makes-you-do_1876167.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e14/kirk-douglas-4420_awful_fear-is-a-terrible-thing-it-makes-you-do_1876167.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e14/kirk-douglas-4420_awful_fear-is-a-terrible-thing-it-makes-you-do_1876167.jpg) > “Fear is a terrible thing. It makes you do awful things.” [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear drives harmful actions and poor decisions. **In simple terms:** Fear leads to awful deeds. Key Takeaway Recognize and manage fear. Themes fear decisionmaking ethics Mood anxious reflective Type cautionary motivational When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology behavioral control Questions to Reflect On - How does fear influence your choices? - Can fear ever be constructive? A Different Perspective Fear can also protect from danger if channeled. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awful/) [Awful Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awful-things-1391133/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-terrible-874556/) [Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Terrible thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible-thing/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) ## Related quotes > [Fear was the terrible secret of the battlefield and could afflict the brave as well as the timid. Worse it was contagious, and could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-halberstam/fear-was-the-terrible-secret-of-the-battlefield-and-could-afflict-the/) [David Halberstam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-halberstam/) > [“Because . . . fear is a terrible, insidious thing, Waldo. 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