--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are all afraid. That's the thing that…" description: "\"We are all afraid. That's the thing that unites all truly successful people: fear, fear of failing, fear of criticism, fear of letting down the team in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/peggy-noonan-4902_attention_we-are-all-afraid-that-s-the-thing-that_3015206.png" --- # We are all afraid. That's the thing that unites all truly… ![“We are all afraid. That's the thing that unites all truly successful people: fear, fear of failing, fear of criticism, fear of letting down the team in some way. That why they try so hard, that's why they pay attention to detail and try to get every possible duck in a row. It's fear” quote by Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/peggy-noonan-4902_attention_we-are-all-afraid-that-s-the-thing-that_3015206.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/peggy-noonan-4902_attention_we-are-all-afraid-that-s-the-thing-that_3015206.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/peggy-noonan-4902_attention_we-are-all-afraid-that-s-the-thing-that_3015206.png) > “We are all afraid. That's the thing that unites all truly successful people: fear, fear of failing, fear of criticism, fear of letting down the team in some way. That why they try so hard, that's why they pay attention to detail and try to get every possible duck in a row. It's fear” [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear unites high achievers, driving meticulous effort and attention to detail to avoid failure and criticism. **In simple terms:** Fear motivates perfectionism. Key Takeaway Channel fear into productive focus. Themes motivation perfectionism leadership Mood determined reflective Type inspirational advice When to use this quote - business - sports - creative projects Key Concepts psychology performance anxiety Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance fear and confidence? - When does fear become counterproductive? A Different Perspective Fear can cause paralysis if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Attention to detail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention-to-detail/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Criticism Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism-fear-685411/) [Details](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/details/) [Ducks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ducks/) [Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing/) [Failing Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing-fear-1312880/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-failing-334342/) [Fear Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-fear-257664/) [Fear of failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-failing/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [Pay attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-attention/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-fear-415139/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Successful people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-people/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“He wouldn’t let himself be imprisoned by fear; fear of failing, fear of rejection. That was no way to live; frozen in place, unable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/onyih-odunze/he-wouldn-t-let-himself-be-imprisoned-by-fear-fear-of-failing-fear-of/) [Onyih Odunze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/onyih-odunze/) > [So many times, people are afraid to start something because of fear of failing. But it can be fabulous - because it leads you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/so-many-times-people-are-afraid-to-start-something-because-of-fear-of/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [The fear of failing... not quite the fear of failing, but the uncertainty of whether you are going to perform or not, is there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/the-fear-of-failing-not-quite-the-fear-of-failing-but-the-uncertainty/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [“Our pride, our ego, our fear of failing too often keeps us from achieving greatness, keeps us stuck in jobs we don’t like, working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-pride-our-ego-our-fear-of-failing-too-often-keeps-us-from/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think, as an actor, it is good to feel the fear of failing miserably. I think you should take that risk. Fear is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-think-as-an-actor-it-is-good-to-feel-the-fear-of-failing-miserably/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [People often fail in achieving their goal because they look at how far they have to go instead of looking at how far they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumaisa-ansari/people-often-fail-in-achieving-their-goal-because-they-look-at-how/) [Rumaisa Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumaisa-ansari/) > [I've often met people who are terrified, you know, in a straight jacket of their own making because they'd rather do anything that fail.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-ve-often-met-people-who-are-terrified-you-know-in-a-straight-jacket/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [In order to be able to make it, you have to put aside the fear of failing and the desire of succeeding. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/in-order-to-be-able-to-make-it-you-have-to-put-aside-the-fear-of/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [Failure is so important. We speak about success all the time. It is the ability to resist failure or use failure that often leads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/failure-is-so-important-we-speak-about-success-all-the-time-it-is-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It became its own discipline, the fear of failing to do as they said; a voice in her head berating her before anyone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-hilary/it-became-its-own-discipline-the-fear-of-failing-to-do-as-they-said-a/) [Sarah Hilary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-hilary/) > [I am consumed with the fear of failing. Reaching deep down and finding confidence has made all my dreams come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsenio-hall/i-am-consumed-with-the-fear-of-failing-reaching-deep-down-and-finding/) [Arsenio Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsenio-hall/) > [You’ve got to fight for that connection with God all the time no matter what you're going through in life. I'm growing up. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-clark/you-ve-got-to-fight-for-that-connection-with-god-all-the-time-no/) [Kelly Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-clark/) > [Don't let your fear of failing triumph over the joy of participating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/don-t-let-your-fear-of-failing-triumph-over-the-joy-of-participating/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [At 13, I was fearless. I looked at everything so positive. When you're older and been through it all, you know how bad it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/at-13-i-was-fearless-i-looked-at-everything-so-positive-when-you-re/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [Be passionate about your life. Learn to live without the fear of failing. Take a chance, you just might surprise yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/be-passionate-about-your-life-learn-to-live-without-the-fear-of/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) ## More by Peggy Noonan > [Politicians, please, think of yourselves! Move to help Terri Schiavo, and no one will be mad at you, and you'll keep a human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/politicians-please-think-of-yourselves-move-to-help-terri-schiavo-and/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [What we need most right now, at this moment, is a kind of patriotic grace - a grace that takes the long view, apprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/what-we-need-most-right-now-at-this-moment-is-a-kind-of-patriotic/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [I love eulogies. They are the most moving kind of speech because they attempt to pluck meaning from the fog, and on short order,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/i-love-eulogies-they-are-the-most-moving-kind-of-speech-because-they/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [But one immediate thing can be done right now, and that is: lower the temperature. Any way you can, and everybody. Just lower it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/but-one-immediate-thing-can-be-done-right-now-and-that-is-lower-the/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [Most people aren't appreciated enough, and the bravest things we do in our lives are usually known only to ourselves. No one throws ticker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/most-people-aren-t-appreciated-enough-and-the-bravest-things-we-do-in/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [Let's cause some senators distress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/let-s-cause-some-senators-distress/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [Boundaries aren't all bad. That's why there are walls around mental institutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/boundaries-aren-t-all-bad-that-s-why-there-are-walls-around-mental/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [TV gives everyone an image, but radio gives birth to a million images in a million brains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/tv-gives-everyone-an-image-but-radio-gives-birth-to-a-million-images/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [When everyone in America knows you're in a dreadful position, admit you're in a dreadful position. Don't lie about it and make them roll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/when-everyone-in-america-knows-you-re-in-a-dreadful-position-admit/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [Beware the politically obsessed. They are often bright and interesting, but they have something missing in their natures; there is a hole, an empty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/beware-the-politically-obsessed-they-are-often-bright-and-interesting/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [Loyalty consists of many things, including being truthful with our friends. When you really disagree, you have to say so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/loyalty-consists-of-many-things-including-being-truthful-with-our/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [Our patriotic fervor was the result of the old and widespread belief in the idea of American exceptionalism, the idea that America was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/our-patriotic-fervor-was-the-result-of-the-old-and-widespread-belief/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [Democracy involves that old-fashioned thing called working it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/democracy-involves-that-old-fashioned-thing-called-working-it-out/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [The Irish are often nervous about having the appropriate face for the occasion. They have to be happy at weddings, which is a strain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/the-irish-are-often-nervous-about-having-the-appropriate-face-for-the/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [Wit penetrates; humor envelops. Wit is a function of verbal intelligence; humor is imagination operating on good nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/wit-penetrates-humor-envelops-wit-is-a-function-of-verbal/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) [Explore all 105 Peggy Noonan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are all afraid. That's the thing that unites all truly successful people: fear, fear of failing, fear of criticism, fear of letting down the team in some way. That why they try so hard, that's why they pay attention to detail and try to get every possible duck in a row. It's fear", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peggy Noonan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/we-are-all-afraid-that-s-the-thing-that-unites-all-truly-successful/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attention" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/we-are-all-afraid-that-s-the-thing-that-unites-all-truly-successful/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/peggy-noonan-4902_attention_we-are-all-afraid-that-s-the-thing-that_3015206.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/peggy-noonan-4902_attention_we-are-all-afraid-that-s-the-thing-that_3015206.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/peggy-noonan-4902_attention_we-are-all-afraid-that-s-the-thing-that_3015206.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We are all afraid. That's the thing that unites all truly successful people: fear, fear of failing, fear of…” — Peggy Noonan", "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": "Peggy Noonan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We are all afraid. That's the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/we-are-all-afraid-that-s-the-thing-that-unites-all-truly-successful/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/we-are-all-afraid-that-s-the-thing-that-unites-all-truly-successful/#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 } } ] } ```