--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Desperation, despair, fear, powerlessness…" description: "\"“Desperation, despair, fear, powerlessness -- these reactions are functions of our perceptions. You must realize: Nothing makes us feel this way; we ch..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/ryan-holiday-514_fear_desperation-despair-fear-powerlessness-t_613701.jpg" --- # Desperation, despair, fear, powerlessness -- these… ![“Desperation, despair, fear, powerlessness -- these reactions are functions of our perceptions. You must realize: Nothing makes us feel this way; we choose to give in to such feelings. Or, like Rockefeller, choose not to.” quote by Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/ryan-holiday-514_fear_desperation-despair-fear-powerlessness-t_613701.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/ryan-holiday-514_fear_desperation-despair-fear-powerlessness-t_613701.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/ryan-holiday-514_fear_desperation-despair-fear-powerlessness-t_613701.jpg) > ““Desperation, despair, fear, powerlessness -- these reactions are functions of our perceptions. You must realize: Nothing makes us feel this way; we choose to give in to such feelings. Or, like Rockefeller, choose not to.”” [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emotions stem from perception; we can choose to reject negative feelings and adopt empowering mindsets. **In simple terms:** Feelings are choices, not inevitabilities. Key Takeaway Choose how to respond to emotions. Themes stoicism mindset empowerment Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - stress management - leadership - personal growth - conflict resolution Key Concepts cognitive reframing emotional regulation philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What perceptions fuel your fear? - How can you reframe a negative thought? A Different Perspective Changing perception can be difficult in crisis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choose Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-feelings-262861/) [Desperation Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperation-despair-2337746/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Powerlessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-powerlessness-4978785/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Powerlessness Reactions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerlessness-reactions-4978784/) ## Related quotes > [“Where one person sees a crisis, another can see opportunity. Where one is blinded by success, another sees reality with ruthless objectivity. Where one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/where-one-person-sees-a-crisis-another-can-see-opportunity-where-one/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“You must realize: Nothing makes us feel this way; we choose to give in to such feelings. Or, like Rockefeller, choose not to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/you-must-realize-nothing-makes-us-feel-this-way-we-choose-to-give-in/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [I do believe that most men live lives of quiet desperation. For despair, optimism is the only practical solution. Hope is practical. Because eliminate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-nilsson/i-do-believe-that-most-men-live-lives-of-quiet-desperation-for/) [Harry Nilsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-nilsson/) > [“All lives are so divided: a step back; a plunge; and then, in desperation and despair, a little climb up God's ladder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roberts-rinehart/all-lives-are-so-divided-a-step-back-a-plunge-and-then-in-desperation/) [Mary Roberts Rinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roberts-rinehart/) > [The way I choose to show my feelings is through my songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-faithfull/the-way-i-choose-to-show-my-feelings-is-through-my-songs/) [Marianne Faithfull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-faithfull/) > [Out of all the toys available in the market, people still choose Feelings to play with...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/out-of-all-the-toys-available-in-the-market-people-still-choose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [With all the toys in the world people choose feelings to play with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/with-all-the-toys-in-the-world-people-choose-feelings-to-play-with/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) > [From All The Toys In The World, People Choose Feelings To Play With...!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/from-all-the-toys-in-the-world-people-choose-feelings-to-play-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [True intimacy is the experience of real acceptance and authentic vulnerability without feeling the need to apologize or fear rejection. The freedom to just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-blake-michiels/true-intimacy-is-the-experience-of-real-acceptance-and-authentic/) [Jordan Blake Michiels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-blake-michiels/) > [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/) > [ The system \[of thought\] doesn't stay with the difficult problem that produces unpleasant feelings. 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Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [I have a strong feeling about this quick movement and changing of society and populations growing - something scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/i-have-a-strong-feeling-about-this-quick-movement-and-changing-of/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) ## More by Ryan Holiday > [“If we can focus on making clear what parts of our day are within our control and what parts are not, we will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/if-we-can-focus-on-making-clear-what-parts-of-our-day-are-within-our/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The areas of great interest to the Stoics all make an appearance here: virtue, mortality, emotions, self-awareness, fortitude, right action, problem solving, acceptance, mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-areas-of-great-interest-to-the-stoics-all-make-an-appearance-here/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“With a business, we take most failures less personally and understand they’re part of the process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/with-a-business-we-take-most-failures-less-personally-and-understand/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Many creatives want to be just the creator, or only “the idea guy.” They like that because it’s sexy and because that’s what comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/many-creatives-want-to-be-just-the-creator-or-only-the-idea-guy-they/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Pretty much everyone's career starts the same way: with grunt work. 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Never forget: the crazy stays at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/it-s-your-job-to-find-a-release-and-an-outlet-for-the-stress-and-the/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Where the head goes, the body follows. Perception precedes action. Right action follows the right perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/where-the-head-goes-the-body-follows-perception-precedes-action-right/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [The risks of speaking extemporaneously are apparent the first time you wing it and promptly put your foot in your mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-risks-of-speaking-extemporaneously-are-apparent-the-first-time/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The tools of the Internet and social media have made it possible to track, test, iterate, and improve marketing to the point where these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-tools-of-the-internet-and-social-media-have-made-it-possible-to/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) [Explore all 504 Ryan Holiday quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) ## More Fear quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. 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