QuoteProject
A man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears.
Michel De Montaigne
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Fearing suffering itself can lead to a state of suffering.

This quote by Michel De Montaigne highlights the paradox of fear, particularly the fear of suffering. It suggests that when a person constantly fears the potential of suffering, they are essentially undermining their own peace of mind, as the anticipation of pain can be more debilitating than the pain itself when it occurs. Therefore, recognizing and facing our fears can liberate us from unnecessary distress.

Themes

FearSufferingPainAnxietyMental Health

In practice

Example use cases

During a motivational speech about overcoming personal fears.

More from Michel De Montaigne

All the world knows me in my book, and my book in me.
Michel De MontaigneRead
All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed.
Michel De MontaigneRead
Pythagoras used to say that life resembles the Olympic Games: a few people strain their muscles to carry off a prize; others bring trinkets to sell to the crowd for gain; and some there are, and not the worst, who seek no other profit than to look at the show and see how and why everything is done; spectators of the life of other people in order to judge and regulate their own.
Michel De MontaigneRead
There is not much less vexation in the government of a private family than in the managing of an entire state.
Michel De MontaigneRead
Those who have compared our life to a dream were right... we were sleeping wake, and waking sleep.
Michel De MontaigneRead
Such as are in immediate fear of a losing their estates, of banishment, or of slavery, live in perpetual anguish, and lose all appetite and repose; whereas such as are actually poor, slaves, or exiles, ofttimes live as merrily as other folk.
Michel De MontaigneRead

Similar quotes

You don't meditate once and suddenly your life turns around. What it does is it lets you train your brain to be able to become more stable in an action-oriented way.
Goldie HawnRead
Without using the word, everyone started forgiving each other again. Just like that, from the no of all nothingness: you have a big tense mess and out of it comes some joy. It must be magic.
Anne LamottRead
A pure heart, open to the Light, will be filled with the elixir of Truth.
RumiRead
Madness in method, that's genius
Frank HerbertRead
Self-care is not about self-indulgence , it is about self-preservati on.
Audre LordeRead
You must not pity me because my sixtieth year finds me still astonished. To be astonished is one of the surest ways of not growing old too quickly.
Sidonie Gabrielle ColetteRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.