--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The beginning of genius is being scared…" description: "\"The beginning of genius is being scared shitless.\" — Louis-Ferdinand Celine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/louis-ferdinand-celine-1139_being-scared_the-beginning-of-genius-is-being-scared_3420.jpg" --- # The beginning of genius is being scared shitless. ![“The beginning of genius is being scared shitless.” quote by Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/louis-ferdinand-celine-1139_being-scared_the-beginning-of-genius-is-being-scared_3420.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/louis-ferdinand-celine-1139_being-scared_the-beginning-of-genius-is-being-scared_3420.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/louis-ferdinand-celine-1139_being-scared_the-beginning-of-genius-is-being-scared_3420.jpg) > “The beginning of genius is being scared shitless.” [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear can be a catalyst that pushes individuals to confront limits and innovate beyond comfort zones. **In simple terms:** Fear fuels breakthrough. Key Takeaway Embrace terror to unlock potential. Themes courage risk-taking innovation psychology growth Mood defiant intense inspired Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - starting a venture - artistic creation - public speaking Key Concepts motivation self-doubt creative process Practical Applications - overcoming performance anxiety - sparking entrepreneurial ideas Questions to Reflect On - What does fear reveal about your aspirations? - How can you channel anxiety into action? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beginning Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning-genius-276036/) [Being scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-scared/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Genius Scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius-scared-276032/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared/) [Scared Shitless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared-shitless-276034/) ## Related quotes > [“This brings us back to the beginning of the genius code: curiosity. It’s an essential part of becoming more creative. Expand your interests in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-patrick/this-brings-us-back-to-the-beginning-of-the-genius-code-curiosity-it/) [Sean Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-patrick/) > [That awkaward moment when you get scared shitless from a feret and hit youur head on a bunkbed--.--](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/that-awkaward-moment-when-you-get-scared-shitless-from-a-feret-and/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [Being scared is part of being alive. Accept it. Walk through it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/being-scared-is-part-of-being-alive-accept-it-walk-through-it/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [I have something great right here, now I just need to work on letting it in rather then being scared and pushing it away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-something-great-right-here-now-i-just-need-to-work-on-letting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All of us experience fear, but when we confront and acknowledge it, we are able to turn it into courage. Being courageous does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/all-of-us-experience-fear-but-when-we-confront-and-acknowledge-it-we/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“He should have been repulsed, angry, even disgusted by his actions, but he wasn’t. Scared shitless, yes, but fear was healthy, wasn’t it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-lister/he-should-have-been-repulsed-angry-even-disgusted-by-his-actions-but/) [Ann Lister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-lister/) > [“All Welsh knew was that he was scared shitless, and at the same time was afflicted with a choking gorge of anger that any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/all-welsh-knew-was-that-he-was-scared-shitless-and-at-the-same-time/) [James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) > [“I've done the being-miserable-apart thing for the last three months and it blows. I'm ready to try the scared-shitless-together part.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-cates/i-ve-done-the-being-miserable-apart-thing-for-the-last-three-months/) [Georgia Cates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-cates/) > [“What most people don’t understand about lawyers is that they’re all scared shitless to actually fight with one another.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-zeta-acosta/what-most-people-don-t-understand-about-lawyers-is-that-they-re-all/) [Oscar Zeta Acosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-zeta-acosta/) > [“...slow and drunk is no match for fast and scared shitless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ransom-riggs/slow-and-drunk-is-no-match-for-fast-and-scared-shitless/) [Ransom Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ransom-riggs/) > [“better pull it together here. I can’t let these boys see that I’m scared shitless. But I am. I really am and I honestly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curran/better-pull-it-together-here-i-can-t-let-these-boys-see-that-i-m/) [Tim Curran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curran/) > [“That’s what brave is, you know. Doing what needs to be done when you’re scared shitless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-rhoades/that-s-what-brave-is-you-know-doing-what-needs-to-be-done-when-you-re/) [Jacqueline Rhoades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-rhoades/) > [To have a successful marriage, a man must, on a fundamental level be scared shitless of his wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-hoffman/to-have-a-successful-marriage-a-man-must-on-a-fundamental-level-be/) [Dustin Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-hoffman/) > [...in your living room, you're scared shitless. And that's just where the power structure wants you. In the middle of a riot, I've never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/in-your-living-room-you-re-scared-shitless-and-that-s-just-where-the/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) > [I'm scared shitless of heights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/i-m-scared-shitless-of-heights/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) ## More by Louis-Ferdinand Celine > [“All our misery comes from wanting at all costs to go on being Tom, Dick, or Harry, year in, year out. This body of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/all-our-misery-comes-from-wanting-at-all-costs-to-go-on-being-tom/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“Now I know... we have at least two friends!... Cillie von Leiden and the hunchback... not bad in our situation... or, come right down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/now-i-know-we-have-at-least-two-friends-cillie-von-leiden-and-the/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [I hadn't found out yet that mankind consists of two very different races, the rich and the poor. It took me ... and plenty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/i-hadn-t-found-out-yet-that-mankind-consists-of-two-very-different/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“Lie, copulate, and die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/lie-copulate-and-die/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [Since life consists of madness spiked with lies, the farther you are from each other the more lies you can put into it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/since-life-consists-of-madness-spiked-with-lies-the-farther-you-are/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [In my room I'd barely closed my eyes when the blonde from the movie house came along and sang her whole song of sorrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/in-my-room-i-d-barely-closed-my-eyes-when-the-blonde-from-the-movie/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [There's a point of poverty at which the spirit isn't with the body all the time. It finds the body really too unbearable. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/there-s-a-point-of-poverty-at-which-the-spirit-isn-t-with-the-body/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“You can be a virgin in horror the same as in sex.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/you-can-be-a-virgin-in-horror-the-same-as-in-sex/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [You can lose your way groping among the shadows of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/you-can-lose-your-way-groping-among-the-shadows-of-the-past/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“People cling to their rotten memories, to all their misfortunes, and you can't pry them loose. These things keep them busy. They avenge themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/people-cling-to-their-rotten-memories-to-all-their-misfortunes-and/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“He couldn't have explained this misery of his, it exceeded his education.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/he-couldn-t-have-explained-this-misery-of-his-it-exceeded-his/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“Hurry hurry, cram yourself full of dreams to carry you through the life that's waiting for you outside, when you leave here, to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/hurry-hurry-cram-yourself-full-of-dreams-to-carry-you-through-the/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [The poetry of heroism appeals irresistibly to those who don't go to a war, and even more to those whom the war is making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/the-poetry-of-heroism-appeals-irresistibly-to-those-who-don-t-go-to-a/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“While he was cautiously preambling, I tried to form a picture of all he did each day to earn his calories, all his grimaces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/while-he-was-cautiously-preambling-i-tried-to-form-a-picture-of-all/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [If you aren't rich you should always look useful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/if-you-aren-t-rich-you-should-always-look-useful/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) [Explore all 212 Louis-Ferdinand Celine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) ## More Being scared quotes > [Being scared is part of being alive. Accept it. Walk through it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/being-scared-is-part-of-being-alive-accept-it-walk-through-it/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [When our favorite anime characters finally realize what torture we're putting them thru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-our-favorite-anime-characters-finally-realize-what-torture-we-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have something great right here, now I just need to work on letting it in rather then being scared and pushing it away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-something-great-right-here-now-i-just-need-to-work-on-letting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Regalia Mason frightened her because she was very clever and almost kind sometimes, the way people who didn't care about you at all could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/regalia-mason-frightened-her-because-she-was-very-clever-and-almost/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [All of us experience fear, but when we confront and acknowledge it, we are able to turn it into courage. Being courageous does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/all-of-us-experience-fear-but-when-we-confront-and-acknowledge-it-we/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“It’s OKAY to be scared. Being scared means you’re about to do something really, really brave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-hale/it-s-okay-to-be-scared-being-scared-means-you-re-about-to-do/) [Mandy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-hale/) > [My daddy always said being brave wasn’t not being scared. Being brave was keeping going when you were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-crandall/my-daddy-always-said-being-brave-wasn-t-not-being-scared-being-brave/) [Susan Crandall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-crandall/) > [Running away from fear is fear; fighting pain is pain; trying to be brave is being scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/running-away-from-fear-is-fear-fighting-pain-is-pain-trying-to-be/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [After you take time off, it can be really scary to do the harder things you used to do, and I personally hate being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunisa-lee/after-you-take-time-off-it-can-be-really-scary-to-do-the-harder/) [Sunisa Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunisa-lee/) > [I don't want to get to the belt without ever going to a second or third round, without ever being in trouble in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-dern/i-don-t-want-to-get-to-the-belt-without-ever-going-to-a-second-or/) [Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) > [I just suddenly thought, people really get off on being scared. They pay money to see green foam come out of people's mouths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-just-suddenly-thought-people-really-get-off-on-being-scared-they/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [I think, as women, we have to stop being scared to be the women we want to be and we have to raise our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jada-pinkett-smith/i-think-as-women-we-have-to-stop-being-scared-to-be-the-women-we-want/) [Jada Pinkett Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jada-pinkett-smith/) > [Don't be afraid of being scared. To be afraid is a sign of common sense. Only complete idiots are not afraid of anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/don-t-be-afraid-of-being-scared-to-be-afraid-is-a-sign-of-common/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [I would love to direct videos and that's what it keeps moving towards, but I have to stop being scared in order to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keke-palmer/i-would-love-to-direct-videos-and-that-s-what-it-keeps-moving-towards/) [Keke Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keke-palmer/) > [The main battle is to make people realise that doubt is important. Doubt is good. The 'don't know' answer sometimes is the box you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-ince/the-main-battle-is-to-make-people-realise-that-doubt-is-important/) [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) [Browse all 121 Being scared quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-scared/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The beginning of genius is being scared shitless.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Louis-Ferdinand Celine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/the-beginning-of-genius-is-being-scared-shitless/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being scared" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/the-beginning-of-genius-is-being-scared-shitless/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/louis-ferdinand-celine-1139_being-scared_the-beginning-of-genius-is-being-scared_3420.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/louis-ferdinand-celine-1139_being-scared_the-beginning-of-genius-is-being-scared_3420.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/louis-ferdinand-celine-1139_being-scared_the-beginning-of-genius-is-being-scared_3420.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The beginning of genius is being scared shitless.” — Louis-Ferdinand Celine", "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": "Louis-Ferdinand Celine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The beginning of genius is being...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/the-beginning-of-genius-is-being-scared-shitless/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/the-beginning-of-genius-is-being-scared-shitless/#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 } } ] } ```