--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fear is nothing to be ashamed of. It…" description: "\"“Fear is nothing to be ashamed of. It keeps us alive more often than not. Gives us caution, spares us pain. It can also hold us back. Wisdom comes from..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/153/s-j-himes-55688_fear_fear-is-nothing-to-be-ashamed-of-it-keep_3109129.jpg" --- # Fear is nothing to be ashamed of. It keeps us alive more… ![“Fear is nothing to be ashamed of. It keeps us alive more often than not. Gives us caution, spares us pain. It can also hold us back. Wisdom comes from knowing the difference between listening to our fear, and when to be brave.” quote by S.J. Himes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/153/s-j-himes-55688_fear_fear-is-nothing-to-be-ashamed-of-it-keep_3109129.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/153/s-j-himes-55688_fear_fear-is-nothing-to-be-ashamed-of-it-keep_3109129.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/153/s-j-himes-55688_fear_fear-is-nothing-to-be-ashamed-of-it-keep_3109129.jpg) > ““Fear is nothing to be ashamed of. It keeps us alive more often than not. Gives us caution, spares us pain. It can also hold us back. Wisdom comes from knowing the difference between listening to our fear, and when to be brave.”” [S.J. Himes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-himes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear is a natural survival signal that can guide caution or hinder action; wisdom lies in discerning when to heed it and when to act bravely. **In simple terms:** Fear warns us but can also limit us; know when to listen or act. Key Takeaway Recognize fear’s role and choose courage wisely. Themes caution bravery self‑awareness decision‑making Mood anxious reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - everyday decisions - career moves - personal relationships - health choices Key Concepts psychology risk assessment emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - When does fear protect you versus hold you back? - How can you test if fear is justified? A Different Perspective Fear may be overstated, leading to missed opportunities if over‑cautious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“Fear is nothing to be ashamed of. It keeps us alive more often than not. Gives us caution, spares us pain. It can also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-himes/fear-is-nothing-to-be-ashamed-of-it-keeps-us-alive-more-often-than/) [S.J. Himes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-himes/) > [It's amazing what we lose in life by listening to fear, instead of listening to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/it-s-amazing-what-we-lose-in-life-by-listening-to-fear-instead-of/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Healing depends on listening with the inner ear - stopping the incessant blather, and listening. Fear keeps us chattering - fear that wells up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-woodman/healing-depends-on-listening-with-the-inner-ear-stopping-the/) [Marion Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-woodman/) > [“The more we soak ourselves in God’s Word, the more we will be able to readily lay hold of the wisdom we need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-brownback/the-more-we-soak-ourselves-in-god-s-word-the-more-we-will-be-able-to/) [Lydia Brownback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-brownback/) > [Sometimes you must be strong enough to admit your limitations. Honest enough to say, I don't know. Have courage enough to admit when your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-nathaniel-butler/sometimes-you-must-be-strong-enough-to-admit-your-limitations-honest/) [Eugene Nathaniel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-nathaniel-butler/) > [“The wise man knew when to let go of pride to grab hold of wisdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-w-hill/the-wise-man-knew-when-to-let-go-of-pride-to-grab-hold-of-wisdom/) [Joey W. Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-w-hill/) > [“You will always be my teachers, just as much or more than I am yours. Do not think – nor let anyone convince you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-leblanc/you-will-always-be-my-teachers-just-as-much-or-more-than-i-am-yours/) [Jeanette LeBlanc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-leblanc/) > [If you fear nothing, then you are not brave. You are merely too foolish to be afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-fear-nothing-then-you-are-not-brave-you-are-merely-too-foolish/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [A strong person is the one who face fear with a brave but wounded heart, who still smile to his enemy, even if he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-strong-person-is-the-one-who-face-fear-with-a-brave-but-wounded/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Courage is not the absence of fear but the judgment that something else is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-the-judgment-that-something/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [But in my opinion, bravery isn't about the absence of fear. Being brave is when you're absolutely terrified, yet you can make yourself face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-in-my-opinion-bravery-isn-t-about-the-absence-of-fear-being-brave/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There’s no such thing as needless fear. Without fear, you can’t be brave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-jenkins/there-s-no-such-thing-as-needless-fear-without-fear-you-can-t-be-brave/) Jennifer Jenkins > [Everybody has fear. The difference is that the coward does not control fear and the brave... gets over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickson-gracie/everybody-has-fear-the-difference-is-that-the-coward-does-not-control/) [Rickson Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickson-gracie/) > [Being brave isn't the absence of fear. Being brave is having that fear but finding a way through it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/being-brave-isn-t-the-absence-of-fear-being-brave-is-having-that-fear/) [Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/) > [Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgement that something is more important than fear; The brave may not live forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-judgement-that/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) ## More by S.J. Himes > [“It felt like fate. That if Gray Shadow and Caius could not find their way to each other, their bloodlines eventually did.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-himes/it-felt-like-fate-that-if-gray-shadow-and-caius-could-not-find-their/) [S.J. Himes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-himes/) > [“Fear is nothing to be ashamed of. It keeps us alive more often than not. Gives us caution, spares us pain. It can also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-himes/fear-is-nothing-to-be-ashamed-of-it-keeps-us-alive-more-often-than/) [S.J. Himes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-himes/) > [“Vampires moved with inhuman grace - the fae moved as if life were a dance, and only they knew the steps.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-himes/vampires-moved-with-inhuman-grace-the-fae-moved-as-if-life-were-a/) [S.J. Himes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-himes/) > [“Gerald smiled down at her, and she relaxed, leaning on them both. “I’m glad I came in for a sandwich,” Gerald whispered, and Royrick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-himes/gerald-smiled-down-at-her-and-she-relaxed-leaning-on-them-both-i-m/) [S.J. Himes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-himes/) > [“Kane hugged Ghost to him. Ghost clung, pressing his face into Kane’s chest. “Whether you are Luca or Ghost or you choose a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-himes/kane-hugged-ghost-to-him-ghost-clung-pressing-his-face-into-kane-s/) [S.J. Himes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-himes/) [Explore all 6 S.J. Himes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-himes/) ## 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. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/) [Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/) > [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [What an incredible drug fear is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/what-an-incredible-drug-fear-is/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [“We all know how the thing we secretly fear is not a secret at all but the open and eternal thing that predicts its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/we-all-know-how-the-thing-we-secretly-fear-is-not-a-secret-at-all-but/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/) [Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [“Snip off the little worries and expressions of worry” like little branches atop a tall tree.28 If you are truly worried, sharing your concerns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/snip-off-the-little-worries-and-expressions-of-worry-like-little/) [Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/) > [“Fear and desire for pleasure. Aggressiveness comes out of fear, predominantly, and sexuality predominantly out of the other. But they mix in the middle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/fear-and-desire-for-pleasure-aggressiveness-comes-out-of-fear/) [Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/) > [“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/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/) [Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) [Browse all 35,569 Fear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Fear is nothing to be ashamed of. It keeps us alive more often than not. Gives us caution, spares us pain. It can also hold us back. Wisdom comes from knowing the difference between listening to our fear, and when to be brave.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "S.J. 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