--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't be afraid to say what you are not…" description: "\"Don't be afraid to say what you are not afraid to think\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/michel-de-montaigne-142_fear_don-t-be-afraid-to-say-what-you-are-not_1560884.jpg" --- # Don't be afraid to say what you are not afraid to think ![“Don't be afraid to say what you are not afraid to think” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/michel-de-montaigne-142_fear_don-t-be-afraid-to-say-what-you-are-not_1560884.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/michel-de-montaigne-142_fear_don-t-be-afraid-to-say-what-you-are-not_1560884.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/michel-de-montaigne-142_fear_don-t-be-afraid-to-say-what-you-are-not_1560884.jpg) > “Don't be afraid to say what you are not afraid to think” [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages honest expression, urging people to speak thoughts without fear of judgment. **In simple terms:** Speak your thoughts openly. Key Takeaway Be honest, speak fearlessly. Themes honesty courage self‑expression Mood reflective courageous Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - public speaking - writing - debates - personal relationships Key Concepts authenticity speech philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What truths are you holding back? - How can you balance honesty with kindness? A Different Perspective Speaking without thought can cause conflict or harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“I did not say that I am afraid. He is, though, I think. Afraid of his own desire for power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/i-did-not-say-that-i-am-afraid-he-is-though-i-think-afraid-of-his-own/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) > [“I watched out of the corner of my eye as he stepped into his shorts and pulled a T-shirt over his head. Slipping the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-rich/i-watched-out-of-the-corner-of-my-eye-as-he-stepped-into-his-shorts/) [Juliann Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-rich/) > [I'm not afraid to say what I'm afraid of. Does that make me fearless?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/i-m-not-afraid-to-say-what-i-m-afraid-of-does-that-make-me-fearless/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [“Maybe there's something you're afraid to say or someone you're afraid to love or somewhere you're afraid to go”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/maybe-there-s-something-you-re-afraid-to-say-or-someone-you-re-afraid-3/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [There's something you're afraid to say, and someone you're afraid to lose. It's gonna hurt. It's gonna hurt because it matters..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-something-you-re-afraid-to-say-and-someone-you-re-afraid-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“tiny: maybe there's something you're afraid to say, or someone you're afraid to love, or somewhere you're afraid to go. it's gonna hurt. it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/tiny-maybe-there-s-something-you-re-afraid-to-say-or-someone-you-re/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Maybe there's something you´re afraid to say, or someone you´re afraid to love, or somewhere you´re afraid to go. It´s gonna hurt. It´s gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/maybe-there-s-something-you-re-afraid-to-say-or-someone-you-re-afraid-2/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [It's not that people want to be like me, but some want to say the things I say and can't because they're afraid. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cardi-b/it-s-not-that-people-want-to-be-like-me-but-some-want-to-say-the/) [Cardi B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cardi-b/) > [Maybe there's something you're afraid to say, or someone you're afraid to love, or somewhere you're afraid to go, you know? It's gonna hurt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-there-s-something-you-re-afraid-to-say-or-someone-you-re-afraid/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Music says the things that people don't say or are afraid to say, and that's the best part about it for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-skye/music-says-the-things-that-people-don-t-say-or-are-afraid-to-say-and/) [Justine Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-skye/) > [I should tell you how I really feel, but I'm afraid of what you might say no...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-should-tell-you-how-i-really-feel-but-i-m-afraid-of-what-you-might/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe very much that the most damning thing you can say about Muslims is that you're afraid to say anything because they'll hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-believe-very-much-that-the-most-damning-thing-you-can-say-about/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [You can't win 'til you're not afraid to lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-win-til-you-re-not-afraid-to-lose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dont worry, Roza, I'm not afraid. I'll take whatever heat they give me over being with you. It's worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/dont-worry-roza-i-m-not-afraid-i-ll-take-whatever-heat-they-give-me/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More by Michel de Montaigne > [No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-exempt-from-saying-silly-things-the-mischief-is-to-say-them/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/every-one-rushes-elsewhere-and-into-the-future-because-no-one-wants/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/beauty-is-the-true-prerogative-of-women-and-so-peculiarly-their-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that boys, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-height-and-value-of-true-virtue-consists-in-the-facility-utility/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. I would willingly return from the next world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/if-people-must-be-talking-about-me-i-would-have-it-to-be-truthfully/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Most pleasures embrace us but to strangle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/most-pleasures-embrace-us-but-to-strangle/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. I not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-true-friendship-in-which-i-am-expert-i-give-myself-to-my-friend/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There are as many and innumerable degrees of wit, as there are cubits between this and heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-are-as-many-and-innumerable-degrees-of-wit-as-there-are-cubits/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [A man has need of tough ears to hear himself fairly judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/a-man-has-need-of-tough-ears-to-hear-himself-fairly-judged/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Lucius Arruntius killed himself, he said, to escape both the future and the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/lucius-arruntius-killed-himself-he-said-to-escape-both-the-future-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I have a vocabulary all my own. I pass the time when itis wet and disagreeable. Whenit is fine I do not wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-a-vocabulary-all-my-own-i-pass-the-time-when-itis-wet-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) [Explore all 1,131 Michel de Montaigne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“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/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“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/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't be afraid to say what you are not afraid to think", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michel de Montaigne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/don-t-be-afraid-to-say-what-you-are-not-afraid-to-think/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afraid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/don-t-be-afraid-to-say-what-you-are-not-afraid-to-think/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/michel-de-montaigne-142_fear_don-t-be-afraid-to-say-what-you-are-not_1560884.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/michel-de-montaigne-142_fear_don-t-be-afraid-to-say-what-you-are-not_1560884.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/michel-de-montaigne-142_fear_don-t-be-afraid-to-say-what-you-are-not_1560884.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't be afraid to say what you are not afraid to think” — Michel de Montaigne", "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": "Michel de Montaigne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't be afraid to say what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/don-t-be-afraid-to-say-what-you-are-not-afraid-to-think/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/don-t-be-afraid-to-say-what-you-are-not-afraid-to-think/#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 } } ] } ```