--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be scared. You can't help that. But don't…" description: "\"Be scared. You can't help that. But don't be afraid.\" — William Faulkner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/william-faulkner-306_afraid_be-scared-you-can-t-help-that-but-don-t_923233.png" --- # Be scared. You can't help that. But don't be afraid. ![“Be scared. You can't help that. But don't be afraid.” quote by William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/william-faulkner-306_afraid_be-scared-you-can-t-help-that-but-don-t_923233.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/william-faulkner-306_afraid_be-scared-you-can-t-help-that-but-don-t_923233.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/william-faulkner-306_afraid_be-scared-you-can-t-help-that-but-don-t_923233.png) > “Be scared. You can't help that. But don't be afraid.” [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognize fear as a natural feeling but act despite it, distinguishing fear from terror. **In simple terms:** Fear is natural; act anyway. Key Takeaway Act despite fear. Themes courage psychology self‑control Mood determined reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - public speaking - personal risk - new ventures Key Concepts fear management emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - What does “being afraid” stop you from doing? - How can you separate fear from action? A Different Perspective Fear can paralyze if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Don Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-afraid/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared/) [Scared Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared-help-1445328/) ## Related quotes > [Be scared. You can't help that. But don't be afraid. 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We never know where our courage is coming from.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/don-t-be-so-afraid-all-the-time-we-never-know-where-our-courage-is/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don't be afraid to speak up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-korematsu/if-you-have-the-feeling-that-something-is-wrong-don-t-be-afraid-to/) [Fred Korematsu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-korematsu/) > [Don't be afraid to have dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-coleman/don-t-be-afraid-to-have-dreams/) [Chris Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-coleman/) > [Don't be afraid to try something new. We all make mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-afraid-to-try-something-new-we-all-make-mistakes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“DON'T BE AFRAID TO TAKE THE PAST HEAD ON.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/don-t-be-afraid-to-take-the-past-head-on/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) ## More by William Faulkner > [“The river itself is not a hundred yards across, and pa and Vernon and Vardaman and Dewey Dell are the only things in sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/the-river-itself-is-not-a-hundred-yards-across-and-pa-and-vernon-and/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [The quality an artist must have is objectivity in judging his work, plus the honesty and courage not to kid himself about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/the-quality-an-artist-must-have-is-objectivity-in-judging-his-work/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“Luster returned, wearing a stiff new straw hat with a colored band and carrying a cloth cap. The hat seemed to isolate Luster's skull,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/luster-returned-wearing-a-stiff-new-straw-hat-with-a-colored-band-and/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [It is easy enough to say that man is immortal simply because he will endure: that when the last ding-dong of doom has clanged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/it-is-easy-enough-to-say-that-man-is-immortal-simply-because-he-will/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“What matters is at the end of life, when you're about to pass into oblivion, that you've at least scratched 'Kilroy was here,' on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/what-matters-is-at-the-end-of-life-when-you-re-about-to-pass-into/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [I've got to feel the pencil and see the words at the end of the pencil,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/i-ve-got-to-feel-the-pencil-and-see-the-words-at-the-end-of-the-pencil/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [And sure enough, even waiting will end...if you can just wait long enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/and-sure-enough-even-waiting-will-end-if-you-can-just-wait-long-enough/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail. 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Maybe yesterday, while I was still a child, but not now. I knew too much, had seen too much, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/it-was-too-late-maybe-yesterday-while-i-was-still-a-child-but-not-now/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) [Explore all 673 William Faulkner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. 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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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. 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