---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fear is the greatest obstacle to…"
description: "\"Fear is the greatest obstacle to learning. But fear is your best friend. Fear is like fire. If you learn to control it, you let it work for you. If you..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/mike-tyson-752_able_fear-is-the-greatest-obstacle-to-learnin_1456552.jpg"
---

#  Fear is the greatest obstacle to learning. But fear is…

![“Fear is the greatest obstacle to learning. But fear is your best friend. Fear is like fire. If you learn to control it, you let it work for you. If you don’t learn to control it, it’ll destroy you and everything around you. Like a snowball on a hill, you can pick it up and throw it or do anything…” quote by Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/mike-tyson-752_able_fear-is-the-greatest-obstacle-to-learnin_1456552.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/mike-tyson-752_able_fear-is-the-greatest-obstacle-to-learnin_1456552.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/mike-tyson-752_able_fear-is-the-greatest-obstacle-to-learnin_1456552.jpg)

> “Fear is the greatest obstacle to learning. But fear is your best friend. Fear is like fire. If you learn to control it, you let it work for you. If you don’t learn to control it, it’ll destroy you and everything around you. Like a snowball on a hill, you can pick it up and throw it or do anything you want with it before it starts rolling down, but once it rolls down and gets so big, it’ll crush you to death. So one must never allow fear to develop and build up without having control over it, because if you don’t you won’t be able to achieve your objective or save your life.”

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

## 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 destructive if uncontrolled, but when mastered it becomes a powerful motivator and tool for achievement.

**In simple terms:** Control fear to use it as energy.

Key Takeaway

Learn to harness fear product.

Themes

fear control growth

Mood

intense motivational

Type

self‑help inspirational

When to use this quote

- public speaking
- sports performance
- entrepreneurial risk
- personal crises

Key Concepts

psychology self‑discipline emotional intelligence

Questions to Reflect On

- What triggers your fear most often?
- How can you practice controlling fear daily?

A Different Perspective

Fear may also paralyze if over‑emphasized, leading to anxiety.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Allow Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allow-fear-952297/) [Best friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-friend/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Crush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crush/) [Down and](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-and/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Develop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-develop-1012802/) [Fear Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-like/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Friend Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend-fear-1643269/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Hills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hills/) [Learning Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-fear-1232582/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Over it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over-it/) [Rolling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rolling/) [Snowball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snowball/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Your best friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-best-friend/)

## Related quotes

> [Fear is the greatest obstacle to learning. But fear is your best friend. Fear is like fire. If you learn to control it, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-is-the-greatest-obstacle-to-learning-but-fear-is-your-best/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Initially, we should practice Chöd alone in our rooms at night, quietly, with less fear. It is by gradually developing bodhicitta and wisdom realizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zongtrul-losang-ts-ndru/initially-we-should-practice-ch-d-alone-in-our-rooms-at-night-quietly/)

[Zongtrul Losang Tsöndru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zongtrul-losang-ts-ndru/)

> [I do not believe that a child can be reformed by lock and key and bars, or that fear can ever develop a child's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-j-flanagan/i-do-not-believe-that-a-child-can-be-reformed-by-lock-and-key-and/)

[Edward J. Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-j-flanagan/)

> [When I had just started 'Cheers,' my nerves were ajangle, to put it mildly. I was absolutely terrified. What you're learning is to not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-had-just-started-cheers-my-nerves-were-ajangle-to-put-it/)

[Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/)

> [Most people stop learning out of fear. They are afraid they cannot learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/most-people-stop-learning-out-of-fear-they-are-afraid-they-cannot/)

[Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/)

> [“It’s interesting to observe the fascination children have with fear. Whether it’s movies, books, or Halloween, part of them wants to be scared at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-kita/it-s-interesting-to-observe-the-fascination-children-have-with-fear/)

[Joe Kita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-kita/)

> [Please, I beg you, do not look away from me. Do not ignore me, overcome me. I pray you never understand, I am nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/please-i-beg-you-do-not-look-away-from-me-do-not-ignore-me-overcome/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [“Destiny dressed you this morning my friend, and now fear is trying to pull off your pants. If you give up, if you give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-tick/destiny-dressed-you-this-morning-my-friend-and-now-fear-is-trying-to/)

[The Tick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-tick/)

> [Fear has been my biggest friend. Fear of the unknown. Whenever I've been afraid, I've been very self-protective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-connor/fear-has-been-my-biggest-friend-fear-of-the-unknown-whenever-i-ve/)

[Erin O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-connor/)

> [The biggest hindrance to learning is fear of showing one's self a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-least-heat-moon/the-biggest-hindrance-to-learning-is-fear-of-showing-one-s-self-a-fool/)

[William Least Heat-Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-least-heat-moon/)

> [Write 10 times: 'Fear is my friend. Fear is the energy to do my best in a new situation.' You don't have to believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/write-10-times-fear-is-my-friend-fear-is-the-energy-to-do-my-best-in/)

[Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/)

> [Fear is like fire; it can be helpful if you know how to use. If not, you'll get burned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/fear-is-like-fire-it-can-be-helpful-if-you-know-how-to-use-if-not-you/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [Fear and the thought of failure . . . But we don't really know what fear is. Fear is something that we create in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/fear-and-the-thought-of-failure-but-we-don-t-really-know-what-fear-is/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [“May you allow fear to soften and melt away. May you release all regrets and resentments.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlene-costanzo/may-you-allow-fear-to-soften-and-melt-away-may-you-release-all/)

[Charlene Costanzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlene-costanzo/)

> [“The important thing is not to allow the fear to control you. Bravery is born of fear.” His”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-markland/the-important-thing-is-not-to-allow-the-fear-to-control-you-bravery/)

[Anna Markland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-markland/)

## More by Mike Tyson

> [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [Greatness is not guarding yourself from people. Greatness is being accepted by the people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/greatness-is-not-guarding-yourself-from-people-greatness-is-being/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [At one point, I thought life was about acquiring things. Life is totally about losing everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/at-one-point-i-thought-life-was-about-acquiring-things-life-is/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [Being in the ring became my reality, and, in my reality, I'd think I was someone special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/being-in-the-ring-became-my-reality-and-in-my-reality-i-d-think-i-was/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [If I was fighting myself, I always say that I would kill Mike Tyson but then again I don't know how hard a punch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/if-i-was-fighting-myself-i-always-say-that-i-would-kill-mike-tyson/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [Yes, time flies. And where did it leave you? Old too soon...smart too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/yes-time-flies-and-where-did-it-leave-you-old-too-soon-smart-too-late/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [My career has been over since 1990.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/my-career-has-been-over-since-1990/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [I love to hit people. I love to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-love-to-hit-people-i-love-to/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [I never wanted to do anything else but fight, when I was a kid. I never had any broader perspective of my own perspective.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-never-wanted-to-do-anything-else-but-fight-when-i-was-a-kid-i-never/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [I don't understand why people would want to get rid of pigeons. They don't bother no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-don-t-understand-why-people-would-want-to-get-rid-of-pigeons-they/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [“Mike tyson made a prolific quote that I will never forget. It came when he was being interviewed by a reporter about another boxers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/mike-tyson-made-a-prolific-quote-that-i-will-never-forget-it-came/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [I'm the biggest fighter in the history of the sport. If you don't believe it, check the cash register.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-m-the-biggest-fighter-in-the-history-of-the-sport-if-you-don-t/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [Tupac Shakur always wanted me to smoke weed with him, and I never did it, and I wish I did...That's my biggest regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/tupac-shakur-always-wanted-me-to-smoke-weed-with-him-and-i-never-did/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [Real freedom is having nothing. I was freer when I didn't have a cent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/real-freedom-is-having-nothing-i-was-freer-when-i-didn-t-have-a-cent/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [You need to learn independence. You have to be independent - it builds character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/you-need-to-learn-independence-you-have-to-be-independent-it-builds/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

[Explore all 381 Mike Tyson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

## More Able quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/)

[Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/)

[Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/)

> [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/)

[Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/)

> [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/)

[Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/)

[Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/)

> [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

[Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Fear is the greatest obstacle to learning. But fear is your best friend. Fear is like fire. If you learn to control it, you let it work for you. If you don’t learn to control it, it’ll destroy you and everything around you. Like a snowball on a hill, you can pick it up and throw it or do anything you want with it before it starts rolling down, but once it rolls down and gets so big, it’ll crush you to death. So one must never allow fear to develop and build up without having control over it, because if you don’t you won’t be able to achieve your objective or save your life.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mike Tyson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/fear-is-the-greatest-obstacle-to-learning-but-fear-is-your-best-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Able"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/fear-is-the-greatest-obstacle-to-learning-but-fear-is-your-best-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/mike-tyson-752_able_fear-is-the-greatest-obstacle-to-learnin_1456552.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/mike-tyson-752_able_fear-is-the-greatest-obstacle-to-learnin_1456552.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/mike-tyson-752_able_fear-is-the-greatest-obstacle-to-learnin_1456552.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Fear is the greatest obstacle to learning. But fear is your best friend. Fear is like fire. If you learn to…” — Mike Tyson",
                "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": "Mike Tyson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Fear is the greatest obstacle to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/fear-is-the-greatest-obstacle-to-learning-but-fear-is-your-best-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/fear-is-the-greatest-obstacle-to-learning-but-fear-is-your-best-2/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
