Darkness Quote by Onasander
““Fear is a false prophet and believes that what it fears is actually coming to pass. At night every trifling occurrence seems more terrible to the besieged, for on account of the darkness no man tells what he sees but always what he hears.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Art of War by Onasander, c. 1st century BC
Fear distorts perception, turning minor events into threats, especially in darkness, leading to imagined dangers.
In simple terms: Fear makes small problems seem huge.
Key Takeaway
Questionate fear, seek evidence.
Themes
fear
perception
darkness
anxiety
Mood
anxious
reflective
Type
cautionary
psychological
When to use this quote
- nighttime worries
- stressful decisions
- overcoming anxiety
- critical thinking
Key Concepts
cognitive distortion
psychology
self‑fulfilling prophecy
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence supports your fear?
- How can you test the reality of a threat?
A Different Perspective
Fear can also protect against real threats, so dismissing it entirely may be risky.
![“There is nothing to fear except the persistent refusal to find out the truth, the persistent refusal to analyze the causes of happenings...Fear [False Evidence Appearing Real] grows in darkness; if you think there's a bogeyman around, turn on the light.” quote by Dorothy Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/640/dorothy-thompson-17557_anticipation_there-is-nothing-to-fear-except-the-pers_1402546.jpg)
![“[T]he ignorant soul is unaware even of that in which another is successful, but knowledge bears additional witness to that which is well done.” quote by Onasander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b45/onasander-78179_knowledge_t-he-ignorant-soul-is-unaware-even-of-th_1723159.jpg)
