--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing I fear most is fear." description: "\"The thing I fear most is fear.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b87/michel-de-montaigne-142_fear_the-thing-i-fear-most-is-fear-914039_914039.jpg" --- # The thing I fear most is fear. ![“The thing I fear most is fear.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b87/michel-de-montaigne-142_fear_the-thing-i-fear-most-is-fear-914039_914039.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b87/michel-de-montaigne-142_fear_the-thing-i-fear-most-is-fear-914039_914039.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b87/michel-de-montaigne-142_fear_the-thing-i-fear-most-is-fear-914039_914039.jpg) > “The thing I fear most is fear.” [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. Fear of fear creates a self‑reinforcing loop that amplifies anxiety. **In simple terms:** Fear of fear intensifies anxiety. Key Takeaway Recognize and break the fear cycle. Themes psychology self‑awareness anxiety Mood anxious reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - public speaking - personal decision - conflict situations Key Concepts meta‑cognition emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - How does fearing fear affect your choices? - What strategies reduce fear of fear? A Different Perspective Fear itself can be irrational and paralyzing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-fear/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Thing Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-fear/) ## Related quotes > [The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. So the only thing to really be afraid of is if you don't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-nixon/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-so-the-only-thing-to/) [Cynthia Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-nixon/) > [First of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-of-all-let-me-assert-my-firm-belief-that-the-only-thing-we-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They tell us that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself,but I don't believe that." he said. Then, a moment later,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/they-tell-us-that-the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-but-i/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [The only thing to fear is, fear itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-thing-to-fear-is-fear-itself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The American story has never been about things coming easy. It has been about rising to the moment when the moment is hard. About…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-american-story-has-never-been-about-things-coming-easy-it-has/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The only thing you have to fear is fear itself...and spiders. Fuck spiders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-thing-you-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-and-spiders-fuck/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you do not do the thing you fear, the fear controls your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/if-you-do-not-do-the-thing-you-fear-the-fear-controls-your-life/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-roosevelt/only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself/) [Franklin Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-roosevelt/) > [Whenever conscience commands anything, there is only one thing to fear, and that is fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/whenever-conscience-commands-anything-there-is-only-one-thing-to-fear/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [We are not meant to fear anything, the only thing we should fear is fear itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-kermis/we-are-not-meant-to-fear-anything-the-only-thing-we-should-fear-is/) [Samuel Kermis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-kermis/) > [The only thing we have to fear is fear itself-and possibly teh bogey man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-and-possibly-teh-bogey/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) > [The only thing to fear is fearlessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-thing-to-fear-is-fearlessness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only thing I fear is when people say, 'I should go to the theatre more.' I say, 'We should create work that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/the-only-thing-i-fear-is-when-people-say-i-should-go-to-the-theatre/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [I have no fear, no fear at all. I wake up, and I have no fear. I go to bed without fear. Fear, fear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/i-have-no-fear-no-fear-at-all-i-wake-up-and-i-have-no-fear-i-go-to/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) ## 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 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": "The thing I fear most is fear.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michel de Montaigne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-thing-i-fear-most-is-fear/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fear" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-thing-i-fear-most-is-fear/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b87/michel-de-montaigne-142_fear_the-thing-i-fear-most-is-fear-914039_914039.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b87/michel-de-montaigne-142_fear_the-thing-i-fear-most-is-fear-914039_914039.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b87/michel-de-montaigne-142_fear_the-thing-i-fear-most-is-fear-914039_914039.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The thing I fear most is fear.” — 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": "The thing I fear most is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-thing-i-fear-most-is-fear/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-thing-i-fear-most-is-fear/#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 } } ] } ```