FDR Quote ” the only thing we have to fear is fear itself”?

by FearLessDoMore on December 31, 2009

does anyone know what he meant when he said this?

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{ 3 comments }

BarryS 12.31.09 at 4:54 pm

I don’t remember exactly when he said it. But, he served during the Great Depression, when the economy was in great trouble, with millions of Americans losing their jobs.

Many Americans were afraid that things might never get better. FDR urged people not to be afraid, but instead to think positively.

When he said that the only thing we have to fear is fear (itself), he was saying that being afraid would not help the country recover, and would only make things worse.

It seemed to work, because the economy slowly improved.

Cat of God 12.31.09 at 4:54 pm

I think it means internal control is more important than what is outside your control.

Tom 12.31.09 at 4:54 pm

Fear, and you do not act.
Do not act and you do not change anything.
Do not change and you are stagnating in the depths of a great depression.

Economic problems are often the result of a self-fulfilling prophesy. If someone who is supposed to be an expert says things are going to get worse, they will, merely because people listened to him and behaved as if he were correct. Treating his statement, or his fear of disaster, as the truth makes it come true.

Stand up, do not fear and things WILL get better.

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