What the world's holy books say about fear

Everyone knows fear. Some of these passages answer it with a promise that God is near. Others trace fear to craving, or praise the courage to do right. Each quote is copied exactly from its book.

The Bible

10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10 (King James Version) · Read it in context

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 (King James Version) · Read it in context

Islam

45 They said: Our Lord! Lo! we fear that he may be beforehand with us or that he may play the tyrant. 46 He said: Fear not. Lo! I am with you twain, Hearing and Seeing.

Quran 20:45-46 (Pickthall) · Read it in context

112 Nay, but whosoever surrendereth his purpose to Allah while doing good, his reward is with his Lord; and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.

Quran 2:112 (Pickthall) · Read it in context

Hinduism

He who knows the bliss of that Brahman, from whence all speech, with the mind, turns away unable to reach it, he never fears!

Taittiriya Upanishad, part 2, chapter 4, verse 1 · Read it in context

Many there be who come! from fear set free, From anger, from desire; keeping their hearts Fixed upon me- my Faithful- purified By sacred flame of Knowledge.

Bhagavad Gita, chapter 4 · Read it in context

Buddhism

216. From greed comes grief, from greed comes fear; he who is free from greed knows neither grief nor fear.

Dhammapada, verse 216 · Read it in context

Confucianism

The Master said, "The wise are free from perplexities; the virtuous from anxiety; and the bold from fear."

Analects, book 9 · Read it in context

To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.

Analects, book 2 · Read it in context

Sikhism

There is but one God whose name is True, the Creator, devoid of fear and enmity, immortal, unborn, self-existent, great, and bountiful.

Opening of the Japji, in Macauliffe, The Sikh Religion, vol. 1, Life of Guru Nanak, chapter 3 · Read it in context

I have no anxiety regarding death, and I have no desire for life. Thou, O God, art the Cherisher of all living things

Guru Nanak, in Macauliffe, The Sikh Religion, vol. 1, Life of Guru Nanak, chapter 8 · Read it in context

Jainism

Be without fear, O king; but grant safety to others also; in this transient world of living beings, why are you addicted to cruelty?

Uttaradhyayana, lecture 18, verse 11 · Read it in context

Greek and Roman classics

For it is not death or pain which is a fearful thing, but the fear of pain or death.

Epictetus, Discourses, book 2, chapter 1 · Read it in context

Every quote on this page is checked word for word against the stored text of its book.