--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I scared myself, because once you've…" description: "\"I scared myself, because once you've thought long and hard enough about doing something that is colossally stupid, you feel like you've actually done i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/laurie-halse-anderson-623_done_i-scared-myself-because-once-you-ve-thou_2789335.png" --- # I scared myself, because once you've thought long and hard… ![“I scared myself, because once you've thought long and hard enough about doing something that is colossally stupid, you feel like you've actually done it, and then you're never quite sure what your limits are.” quote by Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/laurie-halse-anderson-623_done_i-scared-myself-because-once-you-ve-thou_2789335.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/laurie-halse-anderson-623_done_i-scared-myself-because-once-you-ve-thou_2789335.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/laurie-halse-anderson-623_done_i-scared-myself-because-once-you-ve-thou_2789335.png) > “I scared myself, because once you've thought long and hard enough about doing something that is colossally stupid, you feel like you've actually done it, and then you're never quite sure what your limits are.” [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Overthinking a reckless idea makes it feel real, blurring self‑knowledge of limits. **In simple terms:** Thinking too much about a foolish act makes it seem done, confusing your limits. Key Takeaway Question your assumptions before acting. Themes self‑awareness risk perception Mood reflective cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - making big decisions - creative brainstorming - risk assessment - personal growth Key Concepts cognitive bias self‑deception Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports your belief about limits? - How can you test ideas safely? A Different Perspective It may ignore genuine danger and encourage reckless behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing Colossally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-colossally-3367134/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Like you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-you/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared/) [Scared Ve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared-ve-2215011/) [Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid/) [Stupid Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid-feel-2478835/) [Thought Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-long-656335/) ## Related quotes > [Don't be afraid to get stupid and feel it. Remember everyone's looking at me and not you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zz-ward-53197/don-t-be-afraid-to-get-stupid-and-feel-it-remember-everyone-s-looking/) [ZZ Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zz-ward-53197/) > [“And, you know, when all is said and done, it really is better to wind up feeling scared and stupid than not feel anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/autumn-doughton/and-you-know-when-all-is-said-and-done-it-really-is-better-to-wind-up/) [Autumn Doughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/autumn-doughton/) > [If I write nothing but fiction for some time I begin to get stupid, and to feel rather as if it had been a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-mary-yonge/if-i-write-nothing-but-fiction-for-some-time-i-begin-to-get-stupid/) [Charlotte Mary Yonge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-mary-yonge/) > [“See, that’s just it…You shouldn’t even know sayings like that,” I griped. “It takes normal people years to pick up on all those little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-a-george/see-that-s-just-it-you-shouldn-t-even-know-sayings-like-that-i-griped/) [M.A. George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-a-george/) > [From where I started to where I'm at right now I'm loaded in retrospect to the opportunities that I have. As far as money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pitt/from-where-i-started-to-where-i-m-at-right-now-i-m-loaded-in/) [Michael Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pitt/) > [“I want to be IMPORTANT to you. Special. He shook his head and gave a soft laugh. Do You know how stupid I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/i-want-to-be-important-to-you-special-he-shook-his-head-and-gave-a/) [Erin McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) > [I'm always easily frightened and I hate being scared. I've never been able to go on the haunted house rides at carnivals of anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caity-lotz/i-m-always-easily-frightened-and-i-hate-being-scared-i-ve-never-been/) [Caity Lotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caity-lotz/) > [Algaliarept varied its shape, sifting through my mind without me even knowing to choose what scared me the most. Once it had been Ivy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/algaliarept-varied-its-shape-sifting-through-my-mind-without-me-even/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [“I'm quite all right. I'm not even scared. You see, I've learned from looking around, there is something worse than loneliness--and that's the fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/i-m-quite-all-right-i-m-not-even-scared-you-see-i-ve-learned-from/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [I'm not scared of very much. I've been hit by lightning and been in the Marine Corps for four years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-trevino/i-m-not-scared-of-very-much-i-ve-been-hit-by-lightning-and-been-in/) [Lee Trevino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-trevino/) > [I've been scared and I've liked not hanging on to stuff where I know that I'm in my comfort zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-plant/i-ve-been-scared-and-i-ve-liked-not-hanging-on-to-stuff-where-i-know/) [Robert Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-plant/) > [I'm scared because all I've ever wanted was someone to love me and be loved by me but now all I want is you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-perkins/i-m-scared-because-all-i-ve-ever-wanted-was-someone-to-love-me-and-be/) [Alyssa Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-perkins/) > [“Tell me you got me!” “I’ve got you.” “I’ve got you. Baby, you’re safe. Don’t be scared. I’ve got you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-savage/tell-me-you-got-me-i-ve-got-you-i-ve-got-you-baby-you-re-safe-don-t/) [Shay Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-savage/) > [I get that you're scared and that you've been hurt. But doing what is easy and safe is no way to live, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/i-get-that-you-re-scared-and-that-you-ve-been-hurt-but-doing-what-is/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [Yeah, I know that everyone gets scared but I've become what I can't be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/onerepiblic/yeah-i-know-that-everyone-gets-scared-but-i-ve-become-what-i-can-t-be/) [OneRepiblic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/onerepiblic/) ## More by Laurie Halse Anderson > [“The word ghost sounds like memory. The word therapy means exorcism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/the-word-ghost-sounds-like-memory-the-word-therapy-means-exorcism/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/censorship-is-the-child-of-fear-and-the-father-of-ignorance/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [“I have this halfway place, a rest stop on the road to sleep, where I can stay for hours. I don't even need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-have-this-halfway-place-a-rest-stop-on-the-road-to-sleep-where-i/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [I can see us, living in the woods, her wearing that A, me with a S maybe, S for silent, S for stupid, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-can-see-us-living-in-the-woods-her-wearing-that-a-me-with-a-s-maybe/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [Eating plain toast will detonate her. "I'll have some honey." When the bread is done I scrape on a microscopic layer of it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/eating-plain-toast-will-detonate-her-i-ll-have-some-honey-when-the/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [Cutting pain was a different flavor of hurt. It made it easier not to think about having my body and my family and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/cutting-pain-was-a-different-flavor-of-hurt-it-made-it-easier-not-to/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [I am learning how to be angry and sad and lonely and joyful and excited and afraid and happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-am-learning-how-to-be-angry-and-sad-and-lonely-and-joyful-and/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [“Leaning against my father, the sadness finally broke open inside me, hollowing out my heart and leaving me bleeding. My feet felt rooted in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/leaning-against-my-father-the-sadness-finally-broke-open-inside-me/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [I like cheeseburgers too much to be a model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-like-cheeseburgers-too-much-to-be-a-model/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [I am getting better at smiling when people expect it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-am-getting-better-at-smiling-when-people-expect-it/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [“All that crap you hear on TV about communication and expressing feelings is a lie. Nobody really wants to hear what you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/all-that-crap-you-hear-on-tv-about-communication-and-expressing/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [I doubt trees are ever told to 'be the screwed-up ninth-grader.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-doubt-trees-are-ever-told-to-be-the-screwed-up-ninth-grader/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [“It was the most eloquent silence I ever heard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/it-was-the-most-eloquent-silence-i-ever-heard/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [I've dealt with depression my entire life, on and off, which makes me the perfect author for teenage readers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-ve-dealt-with-depression-my-entire-life-on-and-off-which-makes-me/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [“What did it feel like to die? Was it a peaceful sleep? Some thought it was full of either trumpet-blowing angels or angry devils.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/what-did-it-feel-like-to-die-was-it-a-peaceful-sleep-some-thought-it/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) [Explore all 437 Laurie Halse Anderson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) ## More Done quotes > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. But I never came down to that level as being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-khosla-kumar/usually-male-directors-have-to-use-foul-language-to-get-the-job-done/) [Divya Khosla Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-khosla-kumar/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I don't enjoy killing, but when done righteously, it's just a chore, like any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua/i-don-t-enjoy-killing-but-when-done-righteously-it-s-just-a-chore/) [Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) [Browse all 25,653 Done quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I scared myself, because once you've thought long and hard enough about doing something that is colossally stupid, you feel like you've actually done it, and then you're never quite sure what your limits are.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laurie Halse Anderson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-scared-myself-because-once-you-ve-thought-long-and-hard-enough/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Done" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-scared-myself-because-once-you-ve-thought-long-and-hard-enough/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/laurie-halse-anderson-623_done_i-scared-myself-because-once-you-ve-thou_2789335.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/laurie-halse-anderson-623_done_i-scared-myself-because-once-you-ve-thou_2789335.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/laurie-halse-anderson-623_done_i-scared-myself-because-once-you-ve-thou_2789335.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I scared myself, because once you've thought long and hard enough about doing something that is colossally…” — Laurie Halse Anderson", "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": "Laurie Halse Anderson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I scared myself, because once you've...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-scared-myself-because-once-you-ve-thought-long-and-hard-enough/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-scared-myself-because-once-you-ve-thought-long-and-hard-enough/#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 } } ] } ```