Try any goddam thing you like, no matter how boringly normal or outrageous. If it works, fine. If it doesn't, toss it. Toss it even if you love it.
Stephen KingRead
It's alright to feel fear, but sometimes a very bad idea to show it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Acknowledging fear is natural, but displaying it can lead to negative consequences.
This quote by Stephen King highlights the duality of fear—it is a human emotion that everyone experiences, but letting it be visible can undermine one's strength or authority. In many situations, especially those requiring leadership or courage, it is often wiser to manage one's fear internally while maintaining a facade of confidence to navigate challenges successfully.
Themes
FearCourageStrengthLeadershipConfidence
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech to encourage employees to face challenges head-on, a leader might say this quote.
More from Stephen King
All quotes →Eddie discovered one of his childhood's great truths. Grownups are the real monsters, he thought.
Stephen KingRead
Hairstyles change, and skirt lengths, and slang, but high school administrations? Never.
Stephen KingRead
Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.
Stephen KingRead
That's the day's business. Thinking. Thinking and isolation, because it doesn't matter if you pass the time of day with someone or not; in the end, you're alone. He seemed to have put in as many miles in his brain as he had with his feet. The thoughts kept coming and there was no way to deny them.
Stephen KingRead
Late last night and the night before, tommyknockers, tommyknockers knocking on my door. I wanna go out, don't know if I can 'cuz I'm so afraid of the tommyknocker man.
Stephen KingRead
Similar quotes
Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.
Elie WieselRead
When this ugly gangster told Joe Glaser that he must take the name of Armstrong down, off of the marquee, and it was an 'order from Al Capone,' Mr. Glaser looked this cat straight in the face and told him these words: 'I think that Louis Armstrong is the world's greatest, and this is my place, and I defy anybody to take his name down from there.'
Louis ArmstrongRead
Dare to wear the foolish clown face.
Frank SinatraRead
I'm not proud of killing, of being responsible for the death of a single person. I never will be.
Norman SchwarzkopfRead
Girls are capable of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they have more imagination than men.
Katherine JohnsonRead
I am not up there by chance. I am there by choice. And I know the wire. And I know my limits. And I am a madman of details.
Philippe PetitRead