--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am afraid! It is not starving I fear…" description: "\"I am afraid! It is not starving I fear, or talking to people, or even being alone. But I cannot bear to be useless and ineffectual. There must be some ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/630/peter-s-beagle-1665_afraid_i-am-afraid-it-is-not-starving-i-fear-or_2054957.png" --- # I am afraid! It is not starving I fear, or talking to… ![“I am afraid! It is not starving I fear, or talking to people, or even being alone. But I cannot bear to be useless and ineffectual. There must be some meaning to me, if not to my life; there must surely be some purpose that has my name written on it. If this is not so, if I am deceiving myself…” quote by Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/630/peter-s-beagle-1665_afraid_i-am-afraid-it-is-not-starving-i-fear-or_2054957.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/630/peter-s-beagle-1665_afraid_i-am-afraid-it-is-not-starving-i-fear-or_2054957.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/630/peter-s-beagle-1665_afraid_i-am-afraid-it-is-not-starving-i-fear-or_2054957.png) > “I am afraid! It is not starving I fear, or talking to people, or even being alone. But I cannot bear to be useless and ineffectual. There must be some meaning to me, if not to my life; there must surely be some purpose that has my name written on it. If this is not so, if I am deceiving myself about this too, then why should I want to become real? What reason have I to live anywhere?” [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker fears uselessness and seeks purpose, questioning existence and the need for meaning. **In simple terms:** I fear being useless and need purpose. Key Takeaway Seek meaningful goals. Themes existential dread purpose self‑worth Mood introspective thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - career - creative projects - personal growth Key Concepts meaning of life psychology Questions to Reflect On - What gives your life meaning? - How can you contribute value? A Different Perspective Purpose may be subjective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) ## Related quotes > [“No more running, no more half living, starving or fear. 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I'm playing a great game, so why should I stop smiling when I get on the field?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-edmonds/i-like-to-have-a-good-time-i-m-playing-a-great-game-so-why-should-i/) [Jim Edmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-edmonds/) > [Take the story of Cain and Abel. Why were we given that story? Scientifically, you may have an explanation for it, but I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/take-the-story-of-cain-and-abel-why-were-we-given-that-story/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [The hardest thing is deciding what I should tell you and what not to. Well, anyway, I've got a while yet before you're old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-connor/the-hardest-thing-is-deciding-what-i-should-tell-you-and-what-not-to/) [Sarah Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-connor/) > [How dare you? How dare you create a world in which there is such misery that is not our fault? 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And why should I pretend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-want-a-blaze-of-light-to-flame-in-me-forever-in-a-timeless-dear/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [Nothing bad ever happens, why should I care?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-elfman/nothing-bad-ever-happens-why-should-i-care/) [Danny Elfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-elfman/) ## More by Peter S. Beagle > [Your name is a golden bell hung in my heart. I would break my body to pieces to call you once by your name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/your-name-is-a-golden-bell-hung-in-my-heart-i-would-break-my-body-to/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Farewell,' she said. 'I hope you hear many more songs' - which was the best way she could think of to say good-bye to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/farewell-she-said-i-hope-you-hear-many-more-songs-which-was-the-best/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [He is a great enough magician to tap our most common nightmares, daydreams and twilight fancies, but he never invented them either: he found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/he-is-a-great-enough-magician-to-tap-our-most-common-nightmares/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [...no place is more enchanted than where a unicorn has been born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/no-place-is-more-enchanted-than-where-a-unicorn-has-been-born/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“...and it's not my place to chase around after you, fixing stuff. What I know's what I know, and it don't include putting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/and-it-s-not-my-place-to-chase-around-after-you-fixing-stuff-what-i/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [The most professional curse ever snarled or croaked or thundered can have no effect on a pure heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-most-professional-curse-ever-snarled-or-croaked-or-thundered-can/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“The baloney weighed the raven down, and the shopkeeper almost caught him as he whisked out the delicatessen door.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-baloney-weighed-the-raven-down-and-the-shopkeeper-almost-caught/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Men have to have heroes, but no man can ever be as big as the need, and so a legend grows around a grain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/men-have-to-have-heroes-but-no-man-can-ever-be-as-big-as-the-need-and/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [A Clock is not time; it's numbers and springs. Pay it no mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/a-clock-is-not-time-it-s-numbers-and-springs-pay-it-no-mind/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Heroes know that things must happen when it is time for them to happen. A quest may not simply be abandoned; unicorns may go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/heroes-know-that-things-must-happen-when-it-is-time-for-them-to/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [The Lady Amalthea beckoned, and the cat wriggled all over, like a dog, but he would not come near... She was offering her open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-lady-amalthea-beckoned-and-the-cat-wriggled-all-over-like-a-dog/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“Where have you been?" she cried. "Damn you, where have you been?" She took a few steps toward Schmendrick, but she was looking beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/where-have-you-been-she-cried-damn-you-where-have-you-been-she-took-a/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Unicorns are not to be forgiven." The magician felt himself growing giddy with jealousy, not only of the touch but of something like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/unicorns-are-not-to-be-forgiven-the-magician-felt-himself-growing/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [The magician stood erect, menacing the attackers with demons, metamorphoses, paralyzing ailments, and secret judo holds. Molly picked up a rock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-magician-stood-erect-menacing-the-attackers-with-demons/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [You pile of stones, you waste, you desolation, I'll stuff you with misery till it comes out of your eyes. I'll change your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/you-pile-of-stones-you-waste-you-desolation-i-ll-stuff-you-with/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) [Explore all 218 Peter S. Beagle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) ## 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": "I am afraid! 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