Life never presents us with anything which may not be looked upon as a fresh starting point, no less than as a termination.
Andre GideRead
There are very few monsters who warrant the fear we have of them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Most of the fears we have about certain threats are exaggerated and not as justified as we think.
In this quote by AndrΓ© Gide, he reflects on the nature of fear and the reality of threats. He suggests that the monsters we imagine or the fears we harbor are often overblown and not reflective of the actual dangers present. This commentary emphasizes the tendency of humans to amplify their fears rather than assess them rationally, calling into question our understanding of what truly deserves our anxiety.
Themes
FearMonstersAnxietyPerceptionReality
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about overcoming fears, one might say, 'Remember, there are very few monsters who warrant the fear we have of them.'
More from Andre Gide
All quotes βDo not do what someone else could do as well as you. Do not say, do not write what someone else could say, could write as well as you. Care for nothing in yourself but what you feel exists nowhere else. And, out of yourself create, impatiently or patiently, the most irreplaceable of beings.
Andre GideRead
Old hands soil, it seems, whatever they caress, but they too have their beauty when they are joined in prayer. Young hands were made for caresses and the sheathing of love. It is a pity to make them join too soon.
Andre GideRead
Through fear of resembling one another, through horror of having to submit, through uncertainty as well, through skepticism and complexity, there is a multitude of individual little beliefs for the triumph of strange little individuals.
Andre GideRead
It is the special quality of love not to be able to remain stationary, to be obliged to increase under pain of diminishing.
Andre GideRead
It is with noble sentiments that bad literature gets written.
Andre GideRead
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