Was FDR nuts when he said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."?

Question

Aren't there many legitimate things to fear, particularly during the times we live in? Aren't people in Israel, for example, scared of all of those Arab rockets being fired at them? Aren't women and children in Lebanon scared of all of the bombs being dropped on them? How does Roosevelt's statement make any sense at all?

Answer 1

I agree with you but what he was saying sounds more like "Be brave because fear is just something in our minds. Fear can be avoided" to me. Good question.

Answer 2

The fear of something happening is usually much worse than when it actually happens. Haven't you ever been panicking that you're going to have to face something, but once it's happened, you say "Gee, that wasn't so bad"? And at the time, panic was spreading throughout the country. That's one of the real reasons the Depression occurred--everyone panicked and caused the stock market to drop through the floor. That caused people to panic even more and there was a run on the banks, which led to banks closing. People lost their life savings and many lost their livelihood, all because panic started in.

Answer 3

FDR said it in reply to the Great Depression, which was caused by a mass panic. If this panic had not occured, the Depression would not have been half as bad as it was. In this respect he was right, but you can't take his words out of context and apply them to anything. There are several things we should fear other then fear, but FDR's words make sense when placed in context.

Answer 4

Because if we move through our lives allowing fear to determine our every thought and feeling, we cannot live our lives to the fullest. Thoughts rooted in fear with produce one kind of manifestation on the physical plane. Thoughts rooted in love will produce another. So whatever happens, is going to happen. Learn to accept and deal with the events that take place in your life. FDR was right, I think.

Answer 5

I think he meant it in a broad way, such as fear can paralyze us into not acting, and that is what we should be afraid of. Look how the current government uses fear to keep people from taking action about issues.

Answer 6

That is a great quote. No he wasn't nuts he was genius. If we had nothing to fear then nothing stands in our way, right? Also, fear can keep people from doing the right thing.