--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I am afraid, I can see perfectly the…" description: "\"“When I am afraid, I can see perfectly the sensible, beautiful not-afraid side of the world, I can see chairs and tables and windows staying the same, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/shirley-jackson-1526_fear_when-i-am-afraid-i-can-see-perfectly-the_1630665.jpg" --- # When I am afraid, I can see perfectly the sensible… ![“When I am afraid, I can see perfectly the sensible, beautiful not-afraid side of the world, I can see chairs and tables and windows staying the same, not affected in the least, and I can see things like the careful woven texture of the carpet, not even moving. But when I am afraid I no longer…” quote by Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/shirley-jackson-1526_fear_when-i-am-afraid-i-can-see-perfectly-the_1630665.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/shirley-jackson-1526_fear_when-i-am-afraid-i-can-see-perfectly-the_1630665.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/shirley-jackson-1526_fear_when-i-am-afraid-i-can-see-perfectly-the_1630665.jpg) > ““When I am afraid, I can see perfectly the sensible, beautiful not-afraid side of the world, I can see chairs and tables and windows staying the same, not affected in the least, and I can see things like the careful woven texture of the carpet, not even moving. But when I am afraid I no longer exist in any relation to these things. I suppose because things are not afraid.”” [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear isolates perception, making the world feel static and unreal, whereas calm reveals ordinary details. **In simple terms:** Fear blurs reality; calm sees details. Key Takeaway Cultivate calm to perceive clearly. Themes fear perception reality calm Mood introspective philosophical Type psychological literary When to use this quote - Anxiety episodes - meditation practice - creative observation Key Concepts Psychology of fear mindfulness sensory detail Questions to Reflect On - What does fear hide from you? - How can calm change your view of everyday objects? A Different Perspective Calm may not fully resolve underlying fear. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ## Related quotes > [Now that I am moving, I am afraid. Where am I going?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/now-that-i-am-moving-i-am-afraid-where-am-i-going/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Imagine being the kids that don't get the job - you're just not beautiful enough I'm afraid, my darling, now off you pop and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-burke/imagine-being-the-kids-that-don-t-get-the-job-you-re-just-not/) [Kathy Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-burke/) > [I want to think again of dangerous and noble things. I want to be light and frolicsome. I want to be improbable and beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/i-want-to-think-again-of-dangerous-and-noble-things-i-want-to-be/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“The humans aren’t stupid, no matter what the purebloods say; they’re just blind, and sometimes, that’s worse. They put their fear in stories and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/the-humans-aren-t-stupid-no-matter-what-the-purebloods-say-they-re/) [Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/) > [“Everything is so beautiful I am afraid to wake up again to the hard world”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/everything-is-so-beautiful-i-am-afraid-to-wake-up-again-to-the-hard/) [Nils-Aslak Valkeapää](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) > [I've always been curious about the things that I'm afraid to look at, that make me embarrassed or bother me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-ve-always-been-curious-about-the-things-that-i-m-afraid-to-look-at/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [“As long as something teaches you some things, do not be afraid of it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/as-long-as-something-teaches-you-some-things-do-not-be-afraid-of-it/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The amount of things you ignore is equal to the amount of things you are afraid of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cervantes/the-amount-of-things-you-ignore-is-equal-to-the-amount-of-things-you/) [Andrew Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cervantes/) > [Fear is a ... it's a weird thing, when you think about it. People are only afraid of other things, they're never afraid of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/fear-is-a-it-s-a-weird-thing-when-you-think-about-it-people-are-only/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [Yeah, right. The things that I'm afraid of? You wouldn't even believe." "You're afraid to trust me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/yeah-right-the-things-that-i-m-afraid-of-you-wouldn-t-even-believe/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [“There's nothing wrong with being scared...It happens to all of us. What's wrong is if we don't try things because we're afraid. We can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-being-scared-it-happens-to-all-of-us-what/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [“Sometimes people who look different from you are scary. Maybe they are ugly. Maybe they are loud. Maybe they are big. Maybe they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hutchins/sometimes-people-who-look-different-from-you-are-scary-maybe-they-are/) Jeff Hutchins > [“Life is filled with things to be afraid of so, as far as I can see it, you’ve got a choice – either you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pilkington/life-is-filled-with-things-to-be-afraid-of-so-as-far-as-i-can-see-it/) [Paul Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pilkington/) > [I won't touch on risky, because that's subjective. People are just afraid of things too much. Afraid of things that don't necessarily merit fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-ocean/i-won-t-touch-on-risky-because-that-s-subjective-people-are-just/) [Frank Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-ocean/) > [I was very afraid to write a novel - it was a dream for a very long time, and it was one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-marr/i-was-very-afraid-to-write-a-novel-it-was-a-dream-for-a-very-long/) [Melissa Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-marr/) ## More by Shirley Jackson > [I can't help it when people are frightened," says Merricat. "I always want to frighten them more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/i-can-t-help-it-when-people-are-frightened-says-merricat-i-always/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [“She could not remember ever being truly happy in her adult life; her years with her mother had been built up devotedly around small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/she-could-not-remember-ever-being-truly-happy-in-her-adult-life-her/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [“Upstairs Margaret said abruptly, 'I suppose it starts to happen first in the suburbs,' and when Brad said, 'What starts to happen?' she said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/upstairs-margaret-said-abruptly-i-suppose-it-starts-to-happen-first/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [“The beautiful clarity of all marked outlines occurred to her--there would be a deep satisfaction in strengthening fences, for instance, going along on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/the-beautiful-clarity-of-all-marked-outlines-occurred-to-her-there/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [“And we held each other in the dark hall and laughed, with the tears running down our cheeks and echoes of our laughter going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/and-we-held-each-other-in-the-dark-hall-and-laughed-with-the-tears/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [“Why do people want to talk to each other? I mean, what are the things people always want to find out about other people?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/why-do-people-want-to-talk-to-each-other-i-mean-what-are-the-things/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/within-walls-continued-upright-bricks-met-neatly-floors-were-firm-and/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [“It was as though the people needed the ugliness of the village, and fed on it. The houses and the stores seemed to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/it-was-as-though-the-people-needed-the-ugliness-of-the-village-and/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [“Eleanor—“I plan to stay up and read for a while.” “Are you still reading Pamela?” Eleanor asked the doctor. “Volume two. I have three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/eleanor-i-plan-to-stay-up-and-read-for-a-while-are-you-still-reading/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [“Is everyone really crazy but me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/is-everyone-really-crazy-but-me/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [February, when the days of winter seem endless and no amount of wistful recollecting can bring back any air of summer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/february-when-the-days-of-winter-seem-endless-and-no-amount-of/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [“it’s quite a hazard, quite a hazard indeed, people knocking you down. Still, it’s a genuine pleasure to find one as willing as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/it-s-quite-a-hazard-quite-a-hazard-indeed-people-knocking-you-down/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [On the moon we have everything. Lettuce, and pumpkin pie and Amanita phalloides. We have cat-furred plants and horses dancing with their wings. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/on-the-moon-we-have-everything-lettuce-and-pumpkin-pie-and-amanita/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [She walked quickly around her one-room apartment. After more than four years in this one home she knew all its possibilities, how it could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/she-walked-quickly-around-her-one-room-apartment-after-more-than-four/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [I very much dislike writing about myself or my work, and when pressed for autobiographical material can only give a bare chronological outline which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/i-very-much-dislike-writing-about-myself-or-my-work-and-when-pressed/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) [Explore all 224 Shirley Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) ## 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": "“When I am afraid, I can see perfectly the sensible, beautiful not-afraid side of the world, I can see chairs and tables and windows staying the same, not affected in the least, and I can see things like the careful woven texture of the carpet, not even moving. But when I am afraid I no longer exist in any relation to these things. I suppose because things are not afraid.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shirley Jackson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/when-i-am-afraid-i-can-see-perfectly-the-sensible-beautiful-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afraid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/when-i-am-afraid-i-can-see-perfectly-the-sensible-beautiful-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/shirley-jackson-1526_fear_when-i-am-afraid-i-can-see-perfectly-the_1630665.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/shirley-jackson-1526_fear_when-i-am-afraid-i-can-see-perfectly-the_1630665.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/shirley-jackson-1526_fear_when-i-am-afraid-i-can-see-perfectly-the_1630665.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I am afraid, I can see perfectly the sensible, beautiful not-afraid side of the world, I can see chairs…” — Shirley Jackson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Shirley Jackson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When I am afraid, I can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/when-i-am-afraid-i-can-see-perfectly-the-sensible-beautiful-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/when-i-am-afraid-i-can-see-perfectly-the-sensible-beautiful-not/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```