Begets Quote by Thomas Jefferson
“Doubts and jealousies often beget the facts they fear.”
About This Quote
Source Letter to James Madison, 1790
Fearful doubts and jealousy can create the very problems they anticipate.
In simple terms: Worry can cause the trouble you fear.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions before they become reality.
Themes
anxiety
self‑fulfilling prophecy
trust
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- relationships
- politics
- project planning
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence supports your fear?
- How can you test assumptions safely?
A Different Perspective
Not all doubts are harmful; some can be protective.
![“[States and the Federal government are] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch of the same government.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/401/thomas-jefferson-43_branches_states-and-the-federal-government-are-co_2619.jpg)
![“Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing [a people] to slavery.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00c/thomas-jefferson-43_change_single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-t_5515.jpg)
![“Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear their leading you out of [any difficult situation] in the easiest manner possible...” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ebe/thomas-jefferson-43_difficult_though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one_9828.jpg)
![“The messiness [in my books] is nothing like an Atwood novel. For me, the deeper subjects are secrets versus intimacy, and how both beget safety but also threaten it. And there is a lot for me about loss, too.” quote by Edan Lepucki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/580/edan-lepucki-20626_begets_the-messiness-in-my-books-is-nothing-lik_132412.jpg)
