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Panic Quote by Sylvia Plath

“Maybe a mouse gets to thinking pretty early on how the whole world is run by these enormous feet. Well, from where I sit, I figure the world is run by one thing and this one thing only. Panic with a dog-face, devil-face, hag-face, whore-face, panic in capital letters with no face at all—it’s the…” quote by Sylvia Plath
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““Maybe a mouse gets to thinking pretty early on how the whole world is run by these enormous feet. Well, from where I sit, I figure the world is run by one thing and this one thing only. Panic with a dog-face, devil-face, hag-face, whore-face, panic in capital letters with no face at all—it’s the same Johnny Panic, awake or asleep.””

Sylvia Plath

About This Quote

Source Poem: "The Panic", 1965

The poet personifies panic as a monstrous, faceless force that dominates perception, suggesting that anxiety is a pervasive, shapeless threat.

In simple terms: Panic is a faceless, overwhelming fear.

Key Takeaway

Identify and confront the root of your anxiety.

Themes

anxiety fear personification

Mood

introspective anxious

Type

psychological philosophical

When to use this quote

  • public speaking
  • social interactions
  • personal crises

Key Concepts

existential dread mental health

Questions to Reflect On

  • What triggers your panic?
  • How can you give panic a form to diminish its power?
A Different Perspective

Panic can feel all‑consuming, yet it often lacks a concrete source.

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