Sober up, and you see and hear everything you'd been able to avoid hearing before.
Sammy Davis, Jr.Read
Reality is never as bad as a nightmare, as the mental tortures we inflict on ourselves.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Our fears and anxieties often exaggerate our struggles, making them seem worse than they are.
This quote by Sammy Davis Jr. highlights the tendency of the human mind to create unrealistic fears and anxieties that can feel more torturous than the actual challenges we face in reality. It suggests that the mental anguish we impose on ourselves through negative thinking often overshadows the true situations we encounter, which are typically not as dire as our minds would lead us to believe.
Themes
RealityNightmareMentalTortureFear
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about overcoming self-doubt, this quote can remind the audience to confront their fears.
More from Sammy Davis, Jr.
All quotes βI'd learned a lot in the Army. I knew that above all things in the world I had to become so big, so strong that people and their hatred could never touch me.
Sammy Davis, Jr.Read
What have I got? No looks, no money, no education. Just talent.
Sammy Davis, Jr.Read
May was young and beautiful, we were legally married, but she was caught in the prison of my skin.
Sammy Davis, Jr.Read
The success of the Rat Pack or the Clan was due to the camaraderie, the three guys who work together and kid each other and love each other.
Sammy Davis, Jr.Read
I have a respect for Elvis and my friendship. It ain't my business what he did in private. The only thing I want to know is, 'Was he my friend?', 'Did I enjoy him as a performer?', 'Did he give the world of entertainment something?' - and the answer is YES on all accounts. The other jazz just don't matter.
Sammy Davis, Jr.Read
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