Is fear itself what we are afraid of?

1. 82

   ii3rittlesposted 13 years ago

   Is fear itself what we are afraid of?
   
   We all know the famous saying "There is nothing to fear but fear itself."
   
   So do we fear, fear or do we fear what our fears can become?

   replyreport
2. 79

   H.C Porterposted 13 years ago

   I would have to say no...we are not afraid of fear itself, we are afraid of what we do not know or what we believe to be true. If I am afraid of spiders...I am afraid of flying, I am afraid because I do not know if I will survive the flight-and I know that history has included many plane crashes so in return I am afraid to fly...If that makes any sense?

   replyreport
3. 83

   stricktlydatingposted 13 years ago

   Not usually.  People are afraid for different reasons, of getting hurt, of being humiliated, of not getting the response they want, but not 'fear' itself.

   replyreport
4. 0

   wilbury4posted 13 years ago

   Fear is an emotion.. so I would say that we can not fear, fear. Just as we can not surprise surprise; or grieve grief.

   replyreport
5. 57

   WindMaestroposted 13 years ago

   Well Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the individual who quoted that statement, appeared to think so. And he is one of the greatest President's this country has ever had, so I'm siding with him!

   replyreport
6. 72

   Ruchiraposted 13 years ago

   Fear is a mind game.
   
   If our mind is un-attached from anything then fear could not be instilled within us. This is a game that we all are fighting and I guess when we control our mind then fear will not be a "thing" to be afraid of...

   replyreport
7. 71

   kevin.howellposted 13 years ago

   Isn't that what FDR said? We have nothing to fear but fear itself.

   replyreport
8. 59

   lostdogrwdposted 13 years ago

   people not afraid of fear it self. it man that people fear for we know that man is just no good and what ever his cause is will tell how and which way and when you  be murder the evil of man is what people fear.

   replyreport
9. 69

   Dexter Yarbroughposted 13 years ago

   Fear is what causes us to be afraid, but we are not afraid of fear.

   replyreport
10. 87

    CJ Andrewsposted 13 years ago

    I would have to say that the average person fears what may come or happen.  Leaders must fear this quality in the average person.  If you are leading 100 men into battle and 50 of them fear death so much that they won't move - you just lost half your men and decreased your chances. 
    Ironic that this fear of fear in a specific situation would be fearing a outcome still.  Good question - a lot of ways to look at it and enjoyable to mull over more.

    replyreport
11. 63

    Lisa HWposted 13 years ago

    FDR or no FDR, that saying has always irked me.  If we're generally strong people with a normal amount of courage (or even particularly strong people with a particular high degree of courage), we tend to fear only what is unthinkably horrific to us (and what would, in fact, be unthinkably horrific to experience).  So, we fear what we fear for good reason - and we don't fear "fear itself" (at least those of us who fear the right kind of things).
    
    There are times when, again for most normal human beings and particularly courageous ones, as well, we overcome even real reason to be afraid out of purpose, the drive and the need to protect someone else, the grown-up understanding that must overcome our fears, and often with the help of adrenaline.
    
    That "line"/"saying" was said within a certain context, so I don't find fault with the words, themselves, in relation to the context and time in which they were said.  My "issue" with those words is that they are often taken out of context and presented as "words to live by in general".

    replyreport
12. 94

    CWanamakerposted 13 years ago

    This saying just means that fears are a mental creation.  Are we born afraid of things or is it taught to us by our peers?  In either case, fears are spawned in your mind. I think most people are afraid of the unknown.   Not knowing or not understanding something makes people afraid.

    replyreport