The man in constant fear is every day condemned.

—Publilius Syrus, c. 50 BC

Fear is a poor guarantor of a long life.

—Marcus Tullius Cicero, 44

An ugly sight, a man who’s afraid. 

—Jean Anouilh, 1944

Fear has a smell, as love does.

—Margaret Atwood, 1972

War is fear cloaked in courage. 

—William Westmoreland, 1966

Worry over what has not occurred is a serious malady.

—Solomon ibn Gabirol, 1050

Tell us your phobias and we will tell you what you are afraid of.

—Robert Benchley, 1935

Nothing is more despicable than respect based on fear.

—Albert Camus, c. 1940

Fear is the foundation of most governments. 

—John Adams, 1776

Who lives in fear will never be a free man.

—Horace, 19 BC

People react to fear, not love—they don’t teach that in Sunday school, but it’s true.

—Richard Nixon, 1975

The basis of optimism is sheer terror.

—Oscar Wilde, 1891

I am a living symbol of the white man’s fear.

—Winnie Mandela, 1985

Suffering has its limit, but fears are endless.

—Pliny the Younger, c. 108

People living deeply have no fear of death.

—Anaïs Nin, 1935

Dread attends the unknown.

—Nadine Gordimer, 1998

I wants to make your flesh creep.

—Charles Dickens, 1837