--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know that if I wasn't scared…" description: "\"I know that if I wasn't scared, something's wrong, because the thrill is what's scary.\" — Richard Pryor" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/richard-pryor-5290_adventure_i-know-that-if-i-wasn-t-scared-something_2962079.png" --- # I know that if I wasn't scared, something's wrong, because… ![“I know that if I wasn't scared, something's wrong, because the thrill is what's scary.” quote by Richard Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/richard-pryor-5290_adventure_i-know-that-if-i-wasn-t-scared-something_2962079.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/richard-pryor-5290_adventure_i-know-that-if-i-wasn-t-scared-something_2962079.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/richard-pryor-5290_adventure_i-know-that-if-i-wasn-t-scared-something_2962079.png) > “I know that if I wasn't scared, something's wrong, because the thrill is what's scary.” [Richard Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pryor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He observes that fear itself can be the source of excitement, suggesting that confronting fear reveals its paradoxical nature. **In simple terms:** Fear can be exciting. Key Takeaway Recognize fear’s dual role. Themes fear excitement paradox Mood intense thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - adventure sports - public speaking - creative pursuits - personal growth Key Concepts psychology risk‑taking Questions to Reflect On - What thrills you that also scares you? - Can you channel fear into productive energy? A Different Perspective Fear may also paralyze rather than motivate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Scar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scar/) [Thrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrill/) ## Related quotes > [Maybe sometimes we don't do the right thing because the wrong thing looks more dangerous, and we don't want to look scared, so we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/maybe-sometimes-we-don-t-do-the-right-thing-because-the-wrong-thing-2/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“Maybe sometimes we don’t do the right thing because the wrong thing looks more dangerous, and we don’t want to look scared, so we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/maybe-sometimes-we-don-t-do-the-right-thing-because-the-wrong-thing/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [One thing I teach my children and want everyone to know that even if you happen to be on a pedestal you should have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahrukh-khan/one-thing-i-teach-my-children-and-want-everyone-to-know-that-even-if/) [Shahrukh Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahrukh-khan/) > [“Cormac wasn't scared of a fight. I wouldn't be surprised if he'd punched his mother's doctor on his way out of the womb.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-augustine/cormac-wasn-t-scared-of-a-fight-i-wouldn-t-be-surprised-if-he-d/) [Donna Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-augustine/) > [“I got to my feet and looked around the room. Just a room, only the one door. I tiptoed towards it. When I passed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/i-got-to-my-feet-and-looked-around-the-room-just-a-room-only-the-one/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [“But once he saw that swing and that house, then he knew. He knew he wasn’t supposed to die. He was supposed to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katja-millay/but-once-he-saw-that-swing-and-that-house-then-he-knew-he-knew-he/) [Katja Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katja-millay/) > [Mum wasn't scared of dad but I'm sure she got fed up with him taking her for granted... 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Diego took a step toward me, wearing an expression that told me he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/kill-her-for-me-she-said-in-that-whiny-little-girl-voice-diego-took-a/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [“That was me. I was The Fixer. Everything was fixed. Well, other than what was important. I walked down the hallway of the hospital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-shen/that-was-me-i-was-the-fixer-everything-was-fixed-well-other-than-what/) [L.J. Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) ## More by Richard Pryor > [It's so much easier for me to talk about my life in front of two thousand people than it is one-to-one. I'm a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pryor/it-s-so-much-easier-for-me-to-talk-about-my-life-in-front-of-two/) [Richard Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pryor/) > [A sold-out house my first night back. Do you have any idea what kinda pressure that is? I could have been at home in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pryor/a-sold-out-house-my-first-night-back-do-you-have-any-idea-what-kinda/) [Richard Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pryor/) > [When you're running down the street on fire, people get out of your way!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pryor/when-you-re-running-down-the-street-on-fire-people-get-out-of-your-way/) [Richard Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pryor/) > [No, I'm not dying, and I sure... ain't dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pryor/no-i-m-not-dying-and-i-sure-ain-t-dead/) [Richard Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pryor/) > [Freebase? What's free about it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pryor/freebase-what-s-free-about-it/) [Richard Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pryor/) > [I'm not for integration and I'm not against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pryor/i-m-not-for-integration-and-i-m-not-against-it/) [Richard Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pryor/) > [Marriage is really tough because you have to deal with feelings... and lawyers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pryor/marriage-is-really-tough-because-you-have-to-deal-with-feelings-and/) [Richard Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pryor/) > [Now they're calling taking drugs an epidemic - that's cos white folks are doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pryor/now-they-re-calling-taking-drugs-an-epidemic-that-s-cos-white-folks/) [Richard Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pryor/) > [What I never understand about a hangover is, where does the breath come from? You know what I mean? I mean, is someone shitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pryor/what-i-never-understand-about-a-hangover-is-where-does-the-breath/) [Richard Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pryor/) > [I believe the ability to think is blessed. If you can think about a situation, you can deal with it. The big struggle is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pryor/i-believe-the-ability-to-think-is-blessed-if-you-can-think-about-a/) [Richard Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pryor/) > [You work your butt off and somebody says you can't have your record played because it offends them. Tyrants are made of such stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pryor/you-work-your-butt-off-and-somebody-says-you-can-t-have-your-record/) [Richard Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pryor/) > [I don't want to go through life as a Wonder Wheel murderer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pryor/i-don-t-want-to-go-through-life-as-a-wonder-wheel-murderer/) [Richard Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pryor/) > [Do you know how you felt when you would lean all the way back in a chair, and just before you were about to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pryor/do-you-know-how-you-felt-when-you-would-lean-all-the-way-back-in-a/) [Richard Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pryor/) > [I had to stop drinkin, cuz I got tired of waking up in my car driving ninety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pryor/i-had-to-stop-drinkin-cuz-i-got-tired-of-waking-up-in-my-car-driving/) [Richard Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pryor/) > [Why get killed when you can run ... your ego will heal much faster than a broken jaw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pryor/why-get-killed-when-you-can-run-your-ego-will-heal-much-faster-than-a/) [Richard Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pryor/) [Explore all 101 Richard Pryor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pryor/) ## More Adventure quotes > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/) Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/) Kevin McLeod > [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. 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