As repressed sadists are supposed to become policemen or butchers so those with an irrational fear of life become publishers.

I always say three things make a writer: inspiration obviously perspiration doing the work. But the third is desperation. I'm not really fit for anything else or to have a real job. That fear drives me. The pressure has always been self inflicted.

I think it is important to ask ourselves as citizens not as Democrats attacking the administration but as citizens whether a world power can really provide global leadership on the basis of fear and anxiety?

Roosevelt's declaration that Americans had 'nothing to fear but fear itself' was a glorious piece of inspirational rhetoric and just as gloriously wrong.

Mysticism and exaggeration go together. A mystic must not fear ridicule if he is to push all the way to the limits of humility or the limits of delight.

We need to teach the next generation of children from day one that they are responsible for their lives. Mankind's greatest gift also its greatest curse is that we have free choice. We can make our choices built from love or from fear.

On every front there are clear answers out there that can make this country stronger but we're going to break through the fear and the frustration people are feeling. Our job is to make sure that even as we make progress that we are also giving people a sense of hope and vision for the future.

This world of ours... must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate and be instead a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect.

By adversity are wrought the greatest works of admiration and all the fair examples of renown out of distress and misery are grown.

Every man through fear mugs his aspirations a dozen times a day.