About this quote

Fear itself is worth keeping; it warns you off real danger and sharpens your attention. The trouble starts when fear stops merely informing a choice and starts making it for you, so that you abandon what you know is right just to escape discomfort.

When to use it

• Feeling nervous before a difficult conversation and choosing to have it anyway.
• Heeding a genuine storm warning while refusing to let vague worry run your whole week.
• Speaking up for a mistreated colleague despite the knot of anxiety in your stomach.