--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know what it is like to experience…" description: "\"I know what it is like to experience terror, to feel despondent, to live in fear. I know how wearying and hopeless life can be sometimes.\" — Phan Thi K..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/phan-thi-kim-phuc-9214_experience_i-know-what-it-is-like-to-experience-ter_599969.jpg" --- # I know what it is like to experience terror, to feel… ![“I know what it is like to experience terror, to feel despondent, to live in fear. I know how wearying and hopeless life can be sometimes.” quote by Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/phan-thi-kim-phuc-9214_experience_i-know-what-it-is-like-to-experience-ter_599969.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/phan-thi-kim-phuc-9214_experience_i-know-what-it-is-like-to-experience-ter_599969.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/phan-thi-kim-phuc-9214_experience_i-know-what-it-is-like-to-experience-ter_599969.jpg) > “I know what it is like to experience terror, to feel despondent, to live in fear. I know how wearying and hopeless life can be sometimes.” [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) ## 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 describes deep personal fear, despair, and the exhausting nature of a hopeless life. **In simple terms:** Feeling terrified and hopeless sometimes. Key Takeaway Recognize and address deep fear. Themes fear despair resilience Mood somber reflective Type personal testimonial When to use this quote - mental health counseling - support groups - personal reflection - recovery planning Key Concepts psychology trauma hope Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to find hope in despair? - How can you support others in similar fear? A Different Perspective Even intense fear can be mitigated with support and purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [You've faced horrors in these past weeks... I don't know which is worse. The terror you feel the first time you witness such things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-alexander/you-ve-faced-horrors-in-these-past-weeks-i-don-t-know-which-is-worse/) [Tasha Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasha-alexander/) > [My breathing is controlled, but all the fear and anger within me. Fear is too simple a word. Terror. That's what I feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/my-breathing-is-controlled-but-all-the-fear-and-anger-within-me-fear/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [Contrary to popular belief, the experience of terror does not make you braver. Perhaps though, it is easier to hide your fear when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-benioff/contrary-to-popular-belief-the-experience-of-terror-does-not-make-you/) [David Benioff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-benioff/) > [“I think horror, when done well, is one of the most direct and honest ways to get to the core of the human experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-cross/i-think-horror-when-done-well-is-one-of-the-most-direct-and-honest/) [Alistair Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-cross/) > [People only talk about what a joyous experience it is, but there is terror: Your life, as you know it, is over. It's over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/people-only-talk-about-what-a-joyous-experience-it-is-but-there-is/) [Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/) > [Death in itself is nothing; but we fear to be we know not what, we know not where.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/death-in-itself-is-nothing-but-we-fear-to-be-we-know-not-what-we-know/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [If this hast been done to language, I fear to know the fate of all else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/if-this-hast-been-done-to-language-i-fear-to-know-the-fate-of-all-else/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [“You know why Wainwright and his kind fear me, don't you?.. They fear that we know the truth about the origins of their faiths.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/you-know-why-wainwright-and-his-kind-fear-me-don-t-you-they-fear-that/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [“This was what true fear was- that you could never know other people, not completely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/this-was-what-true-fear-was-that-you-could-never-know-other-people/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“If you know someone's fear, you know them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-aveyard/if-you-know-someone-s-fear-you-know-them/) [Victoria Aveyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-aveyard/) > [Whenever I'm faced with a difficult decision, I ask myself, 'What would I do if I weren't afraid of making a mistake? Feeling rejected?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/whenever-i-m-faced-with-a-difficult-decision-i-ask-myself-what-would/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [In a lot of ways knowledge kills fear. Once you know who the boogie man is, once you know what's under the bed, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/in-a-lot-of-ways-knowledge-kills-fear-once-you-know-who-the-boogie/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [“Never assume they know what you fear they know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-bingham/never-assume-they-know-what-you-fear-they-know/) [Harry Bingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-bingham/) > [People tend to fear what they do not know, and what they fear they dislike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/people-tend-to-fear-what-they-do-not-know-and-what-they-fear-they/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [My father thrives on fear. You know that prayer If I should die before I wake? I had sheets that said that!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/my-father-thrives-on-fear-you-know-that-prayer-if-i-should-die-before/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) ## More by Phan Thi Kim Phuc > [I suffered too much and I want to stop the suffering of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-suffered-too-much-and-i-want-to-stop-the-suffering-of-other-people/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [From time to time I look at the picture when I am very sad. I just want to remember my past and that scene…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/from-time-to-time-i-look-at-the-picture-when-i-am-very-sad-i-just/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [I am praying every day for peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-am-praying-every-day-for-peace/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [Those bombs have brought me immeasurable pain. Even now, some 40 years later, I am still receiving treatment for burns that cover my arms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/those-bombs-have-brought-me-immeasurable-pain-even-now-some-40-years/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [I want to give back all the love and care that I have received over the years from so many people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-want-to-give-back-all-the-love-and-care-that-i-have-received-over/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [I got burned by napalm, and I became a victim of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-got-burned-by-napalm-and-i-became-a-victim-of-war/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [God used me that day. Even though so much of my body was burned, my feet were not burned, and so I could run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/god-used-me-that-day-even-though-so-much-of-my-body-was-burned-my/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [Religion doesn't help me at all. But the relationship between me and God and Jesus, that changed my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/religion-doesn-t-help-me-at-all-but-the-relationship-between-me-and/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [As a child, I loved to climb on the tree, like a monkey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/as-a-child-i-loved-to-climb-on-the-tree-like-a-monkey/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [I have my foundation, I help the children who are victims of war, and I talk about kids and I help people to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-have-my-foundation-i-help-the-children-who-are-victims-of-war-and-i/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [I was really embarrassed. And I asked why they took my picture when I was in such agony, and I'm the girl, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-was-really-embarrassed-and-i-asked-why-they-took-my-picture-when-i/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [I have two boys, so I don't want any more child to suffer like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-have-two-boys-so-i-don-t-want-any-more-child-to-suffer-like-me/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [For years, I prayed to the gods of Cao Dai for healing and peace. But as one prayer after another went unanswered, it became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/for-years-i-prayed-to-the-gods-of-cao-dai-for-healing-and-peace-but/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [Dear friends: faith and forgiveness is much more powerful than napalm could ever be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/dear-friends-faith-and-forgiveness-is-much-more-powerful-than-napalm/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [I hated myself. I hated people who made war. I hated people who were normal. I envied them. I wish I would be normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-hated-myself-i-hated-people-who-made-war-i-hated-people-who-were/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) [Explore all 74 Phan Thi Kim Phuc quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) ## More Experience quotes > [Experience makes a lesson to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/experience-makes-a-lesson-to-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [From my experience of having served for 3000 days, I can say that anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/from-my-experience-of-having-served-for-3000-days-i-can-say-that/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [Education is a lifelong experience. Experience is a lifelong education. Education plus experience equals expertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bugeja/education-is-a-lifelong-experience-experience-is-a-lifelong-education/) Michael Bugeja > [Prison experience puts distance between me and any person who hasn't been there, done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/prison-experience-puts-distance-between-me-and-any-person-who-hasn-t/) [Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/) > [Experience is a thorough teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jane-holmes/experience-is-a-thorough-teacher/) [Mary Jane Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jane-holmes/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I've had a great experience with pretty much everybody I've worked with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/i-ve-had-a-great-experience-with-pretty-much-everybody-i-ve-worked/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) > [It wasn't a mistake, it was a fun learning experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-wasn-t-a-mistake-it-was-a-fun-learning-experience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) [Browse all 11,792 Experience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know what it is like to experience terror, to feel despondent, to live in fear. 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