--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a strange thing when you spend so…" description: "\"“It's a strange thing when you spend so much time and energy fearing the worst will happen. Turns out that when it finally occurs, it's pretty much as ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/lane-davis-181353_fear_it-s-a-strange-thing-when-you-spend-so-m_860914.jpg" --- # It's a strange thing when you spend so much time and… ![“It's a strange thing when you spend so much time and energy fearing the worst will happen. Turns out that when it finally occurs, it's pretty much as bad as you thought it would be. In fact, some parts are worse. Then an amazing thing happens. You see clearly for the first time what made the…” quote by Lane Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/lane-davis-181353_fear_it-s-a-strange-thing-when-you-spend-so-m_860914.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/lane-davis-181353_fear_it-s-a-strange-thing-when-you-spend-so-m_860914.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/lane-davis-181353_fear_it-s-a-strange-thing-when-you-spend-so-m_860914.jpg) > ““It's a strange thing when you spend so much time and energy fearing the worst will happen. Turns out that when it finally occurs, it's pretty much as bad as you thought it would be. In fact, some parts are worse. Then an amazing thing happens. You see clearly for the first time what made the terrible thing so frightening in the first place: You didn't think you'd survive. But you do.”” [Lane Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lane-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes how fearing the worst can be accurate, but survival reveals inner strength and clarity. **In simple terms:** Facing fear reveals true resilience. Key Takeaway Embrace fear as a catalyst for growth. Themes fear survival resilience clarity mindset Mood courageous inspired Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - risk assessment - personal crises - mental training Key Concepts psychology self‑help motivation Questions to Reflect On - What fear have you overcome? - How did survival change your perspective? A Different Perspective May underestimate chronic anxiety effects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Energy Fearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy-fearing-852895/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fearing/) [Fearing Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fearing-worst-852894/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Frightening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frightening/) [Thing Frightening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-frightening-852896/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time and energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-and-energy/) ## Related quotes > [I was so scared to give up depression, fearing that somehow the worst part of me was actually all of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wurtzel/i-was-so-scared-to-give-up-depression-fearing-that-somehow-the-worst/) [Elizabeth Wurtzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wurtzel/) > [There's only one thing more frightening than being asked to do a book tour, and that's not being asked to do a book tour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-petievich/there-s-only-one-thing-more-frightening-than-being-asked-to-do-a-book/) [Gerald Petievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-petievich/) > [“I spent the past two years fearing the worst, that I chose safe arms to hold me when his arms weren’t the arms I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-michelle/i-spent-the-past-two-years-fearing-the-worst-that-i-chose-safe-arms/) [Andrea Michelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-michelle/) > [Only one thing is more frightening than speaking your truth, and that is not speaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/only-one-thing-is-more-frightening-than-speaking-your-truth-and-that/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [“TO EAT IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND VERY PLEASUREABLE THING, BUT IT CAN ALSO BE VERY FRIGHTENING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clamp/to-eat-is-very-important-and-very-pleasureable-thing-but-it-can-also/) [CLAMP](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clamp/) > [“The frightening thing—frightening, I don’t know if it’s frightening—frustrating, frightening, fascinating thing is we know with virtual certainty that the universe is at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-susskind/the-frightening-thing-frightening-i-don-t-know-if-it-s-frightening/) [Leonard Susskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-susskind/) > [The thing most frightening about Donald Trump is he doesn't know what he doesn't know and doesn't seem to care about what he doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sykes/the-thing-most-frightening-about-donald-trump-is-he-doesn-t-know-what/) [Charlie Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sykes/) > [“All my life I have known fear. But I have acted in spite of it. I urge you to do the same. Your father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-essex/all-my-life-i-have-known-fear-but-i-have-acted-in-spite-of-it-i-urge/) [Karen Essex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-essex/) > [Courage does not mean not fearing or not grieving. It does mean recognizing and resisting terror management right away, from the moment of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/courage-does-not-mean-not-fearing-or-not-grieving-it-does-mean/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [The greatest mistake you can make in life is continually fearing that you'll make one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-greatest-mistake-you-can-make-in-life-is-continually-fearing-that/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [How can I turn my Life around?? By acting on Fear.. stop fearing the unexplained, stop fearing yourself just Do something about your Rut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samara-visser/how-can-i-turn-my-life-around-by-acting-on-fear-stop-fearing-the/) [Samara Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samara-visser/) > [I'm a God-fearing man, go to church every Sunday, and have since I was a boy. But if I ever found out that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chael-sonnen/i-m-a-god-fearing-man-go-to-church-every-sunday-and-have-since-i-was/) [Chael Sonnen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chael-sonnen/) > [Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/confidence-comes-not-from-always-being-right-but-from-not-fearing-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [“Anything you fear is a shackle to ur soul. It is a phobia that tethers and blinds ur ability to see and comprehend your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/anything-you-fear-is-a-shackle-to-ur-soul-it-is-a-phobia-that-tethers/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) ## 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": "“It's a strange thing when you spend so much time and energy fearing the worst will happen. Turns out that when it finally occurs, it's pretty much as bad as you thought it would be. In fact, some parts are worse. Then an amazing thing happens. You see clearly for the first time what made the terrible thing so frightening in the first place: You didn't think you'd survive. But you do.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lane Davis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lane-davis/it-s-a-strange-thing-when-you-spend-so-much-time-and-energy-fearing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fear" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lane-davis/it-s-a-strange-thing-when-you-spend-so-much-time-and-energy-fearing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/lane-davis-181353_fear_it-s-a-strange-thing-when-you-spend-so-m_860914.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/lane-davis-181353_fear_it-s-a-strange-thing-when-you-spend-so-m_860914.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/lane-davis-181353_fear_it-s-a-strange-thing-when-you-spend-so-m_860914.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's a strange thing when you spend so much time and energy fearing the worst will happen. Turns out that…” — Lane Davis", "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": "Lane Davis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lane-davis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It's a strange thing when you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lane-davis/it-s-a-strange-thing-when-you-spend-so-much-time-and-energy-fearing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lane-davis/it-s-a-strange-thing-when-you-spend-so-much-time-and-energy-fearing/#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 } } ] } ```