“The thirst for powerful sensations takes the upper hand both over fear...” — Anton Chekhov Quote

The thirst for powerful sensations takes the upper hand both over fear and over compassion for the grief of others.

Reason and justice tell me there's more love for humanity in electricity and steam than in chastity and vegetarianism.

A writer is not a confectioner, a cosmetic dealer, or an entertainer.

And I despise your books, I despise wisdom and the blessings of this world. It is all worthless, fleeting, illusory, and deceptive, like a mirage. You may be proud, wise, and fine, but death will wipe you off the face of the earth as though you were no more than mice burrowing under the floor, and your posterity, your history, your immortal geniuses will burn or freeze together with the earthly globe.

I started flying because I had a fear of it early on. I figured if I learned to fly, I would understand better what was happening and started taking lessons in the late 1950's, once I had made some money on tour.

Use the energy that fear creates to focus the mind more intently on the present moment - where fear doesn't exist.

I must be a mermaid, Rango. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.

I really believed that fear is contagious.

Fear is often our immediate response to uncertainty. There's nothing wrong with experiencing fear. They key is not to get stuck in it.