--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even our fears make us feel important…" description: "\"Even our fears make us feel important, because we fear we might not be.\" — Terry Pratchett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/terry-pratchett-19_fear_even-our-fears-make-us-feel-important-be_1148514.jpg" --- # Even our fears make us feel important, because we fear we… ![“Even our fears make us feel important, because we fear we might not be.” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/terry-pratchett-19_fear_even-our-fears-make-us-feel-important-be_1148514.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/terry-pratchett-19_fear_even-our-fears-make-us-feel-important-be_1148514.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/terry-pratchett-19_fear_even-our-fears-make-us-feel-important-be_1148514.jpg) > “Even our fears make us feel important, because we fear we might not be.” [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear gives us a sense of significance; we cling to it to feel we matter. **In simple terms:** Fear makes us feel important. Key Takeaway Recognize fear’s role in self‑worth. Themes psychology self meaning Mood introspective humorous Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - therapy - creative writing Key Concepts existential anxiety self‑esteem identity formation Questions to Reflect On - How can you find worth without fear? - What alternatives give you a sense of importance? A Different Perspective Relying on fear can lead to avoidance and stagnation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fears/) ## Related quotes > [“To know a species, look at its fears. To know yourself, look at your fears. Fear in itself is not important, but fear stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/to-know-a-species-look-at-its-fears-to-know-yourself-look-at-your/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [The only way to get rid of my fears is to make films about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-hitchcock/the-only-way-to-get-rid-of-my-fears-is-to-make-films-about-them/) [Alfred Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-hitchcock/) > [There are two kinds of fears: rational and irrational- or in simpler terms, fears that make sense and fears that don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-two-kinds-of-fears-rational-and-irrational-or-in-simpler/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When our actions do not, our fears do make us traitors”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/when-our-actions-do-not-our-fears-do-make-us-traitors/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“We speak frequently of our fear of the unknown, but it is our known fears that often make us stumble.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-purifoy/we-speak-frequently-of-our-fear-of-the-unknown-but-it-is-our-known/) [Christie Purifoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-purifoy/) > [When our actions do not, our fears make us traitors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/when-our-actions-do-not-our-fears-make-us-traitors/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [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/) > [“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision that something is more important than fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-tawn-bergren/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-the-decision-that-something-is/) [Lisa Tawn Bergren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-tawn-bergren/) > [Bravery isn't the absence of fear, it's the realization of something else being more important than fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bravery-isn-t-the-absence-of-fear-it-s-the-realization-of-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-redmoon/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-judgment-that/) Ambrose Redmoon > [Fear can be one of the most destructive emotions. 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Don't be afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-in-itself-is-not-important-but-fear-stands-there-and-points-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-judgement-that-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Terry Pratchett > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But I did not return until half past four this morning and I distinctly remember stubbing my toe on the stairs. 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'I'd like a hard-boiled egg,' said Vimes, shaking the match out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-d-like-freedom-truth-and-justice-wouldn-t-you-comrade-sergeant/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You are not apprehensive, are you? I can't detect no trace of fear none whatsoever Roomy cranium all possible videos of all possible outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-are-not-apprehensive-are-you-i-can-t-detect-no-trace-of-fear-none/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Imagination, not intelligence, made us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/imagination-not-intelligence-made-us-human/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Explore all 3,328 Terry Pratchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## 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": "Even our fears make us feel important, because we fear we might not be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Pratchett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/even-our-fears-make-us-feel-important-because-we-fear-we-might-not-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fear" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/even-our-fears-make-us-feel-important-because-we-fear-we-might-not-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/terry-pratchett-19_fear_even-our-fears-make-us-feel-important-be_1148514.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/terry-pratchett-19_fear_even-our-fears-make-us-feel-important-be_1148514.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/terry-pratchett-19_fear_even-our-fears-make-us-feel-important-be_1148514.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Even our fears make us feel important, because we fear we might not be.” — Terry Pratchett", "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": "Terry Pratchett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Even our fears make us feel...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/even-our-fears-make-us-feel-important-because-we-fear-we-might-not-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/even-our-fears-make-us-feel-important-because-we-fear-we-might-not-be/#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 } } ] } ```