Nathaniel Hawthorne Quote by Lemony Snicket
““There are two basic types of panicking: standing still and no saying a world, and leaping all over the place babbling anything that come into your head. Mr. Poe was the leaping-and-babbling king. Klaus and Sunny had never seen the banker move so quickly or talk in such a high pitched voice. 'Goodness!' he cried. 'Golly! Good God! Blessed Allah! Zeus and Hera! Mary and Joseph! Nathaniel Hawthorne! Don't touch her! Grab her! Move closer! Run away! Don't move! Kill the snake! Leave it alone! Give it some food! Don't let it bite her!Lure the snake away! Here, snakey! Here, snakey snakey!””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart, 2008
Panic manifests as either frozen indecision or frantic, uncontrolled action, both driven by overwhelming anxiety.
In simple terms: When panicking, people either freeze or act wildly.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and regulate panic responses.
Themes
anxiety
panic
behavior
control
Mood
anxious
humorous
Type
literary
observational
When to use this quote
- emergency situations
- public speaking
- high‑stakes decisions
- personal crises
Key Concepts
psychology
stress response
cognitive overload
Questions to Reflect On
- What triggers your panic: freeze or frantic?
- How can you practice calm decision‑making?
A Different Perspective
The description is exaggerated and humorous, not a clinical guide.
