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[–][deleted] 3724 points3725 points  (152 children)

'Can a man still be brave if he's afraid?' 'That is the only time a man can be brave'

[–]pleasefindJaRule 919 points920 points  (71 children)

-steve buscemi

[–]alongdaysjourney 557 points558 points  (38 children)

TIL he did 9/11

[–]llDividendll 521 points522 points  (30 children)

“Until” or “today I learned?”

[–]mecken 96 points97 points  (18 children)

Underrated comment

[–][deleted]  (10 children)


    [–]guitar-fondler 20 points21 points  (0 children)

    That comic made a great impact on me. Thanks for posting it.

    [–]Ddub4 8 points9 points  (3 children)

    Okay but the frame with the crocodiles I think he made the right call. He went from “I want to live life” to “I want to continue living life and not be crocodile food”

    [–]ParadoxAnarchy 7 points8 points  (2 children)

    I wonder if his uncertainty made him exaggerate the conditions in order to create a lie for himself and not have to do it

    [–]PM_ME_YOUR__BOOTY 6 points7 points  (2 children)

    Well, jumping in any other than the last row would have been fucking stupid, so... what's the point? Better to die than wait a little? Not for me thank you!

    [–]fortyforce 10 points11 points  (1 child)

    In the first panel the conditions are ideal, but the guy thinks he is not ready. Then he sees how much worse the conditions can be, and when they are just as good as in the beginning again, he jumps.

    [–]ItsSansom 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    At least 5 of those panels, I think it's better to not jump...

    [–]blueicedome 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    this makes absolutely zero sense

    [–]PixelSun 7 points8 points  (0 children)

    Probably both

    [–]joguelol 5 points6 points  (2 children)

    Omg it was him???


    He was spotted at the scene.

    [–]muriken_egel 4 points5 points  (1 child)

    I thought it was Bush?

    [–]ObnoxiousLittleCunt 5 points6 points  (0 children)


    His name? Steve Bin Ladin

    [–]DayKid2 29 points30 points  (3 children)

    -Michael Scott

    [–]aegonish 24 points25 points  (0 children)

    "I want people to be afraid of how much they love me"

    [–]Loopogram 4 points5 points  (1 child)

    If I was in a room with Toby, Hitler, and Bin Laden with a gun and two bullets, I would shoot Toby twice -Also Michael Scott

    [–]RedditBadga 44 points45 points  (16 children)

    Happy cake day

    [–]-You-Lost_The-Game- 12 points13 points  (7 children)

    Remember The Game?

    [–]GameKyuubi 23 points24 points  (0 children)

    I beat The Game by creating a split personality that takes the loss for me.

    [–]Sipredion 6 points7 points  (0 children)

    You bastard

    [–]Pyrokill 5 points6 points  (0 children)

    I lost the game


    you mean the rapper?

    [–]_whatismydestiny_ 7 points8 points  (7 children)

    Gold for wishing?! Happy Gold Day!

    [–]buscemi100mm 10 points11 points  (2 children)

    I didn't say that.

    [–]APridefulTexan 2 points3 points  (1 child)

    Duh, you’re buscemi100mm not Steve Buscemi /s

    [–]voicefromthecloset 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Happy 🍰 day my dude!

    [–]WingsandTings 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    "-Steve Buscemi" "Michael Scott"

    [–]Phazon2000 205 points206 points  (47 children)


    Shitting bricks, yet going against your gut instinct of self-preservation for a greater good is true bravery.

    The same thing without fear is virtuous but I'm not sure if it's bravery.

    [–]justsomeguy_onreddit 57 points58 points  (15 children)

    It's the difference between bravery and fearlessness. The former has unlimited potential while the latter can be broken. Someone is only fearless until they face something that causes them fear, but true bravery can see you through anything.

    [–]Phazon2000 26 points27 points  (12 children)

    Absolutely well said.

    Someone might rush up to a burning car and save a family once a week (maybe he lives on a very dangerous road lol). It's just a crashed car right? Gotta help those people like you'd help a child who has fallen off a bike.

    Then that person might learn about fuel lines and how those cars could explode and that fearless man might take moment for pause.

    A brave man would acknowledge the danger to himself but fight through the fear to do what he must. Because that's what bravery is sometimes - overcoming fear to do what is right. People like to label things as "brave acts" but true bravery is known to the person themselves.

    [–]dbx994 1 point2 points  (5 children)

    Is it still a brave thing if the man does the act to save someone's life by placing his own in danger, understanding the danger he is facing, feeling the fear of the situation, and acting despite the danger, yet in his mind also formulates a greedy and selfish motive hoping for glory, status, adulation, and reward at the other side of the brave act?

    [–]ZoomJet6 11 points12 points  (0 children)

    Excellent summary.

    [–]KnightRedeemed 36 points37 points  (0 children)

    Papa Ned

    [–]_whatismydestiny_ 8 points9 points  (1 child)

    'Fear cuts deeper than swords.'

    [–]sipoloco 10 points11 points  (0 children)

    "Being brave is being the only one who knows you're afraid". - Colonel David Hackworth

    [–]BenzoAddydaddy 8 points9 points  (0 children)


    [–]tomcat_crk 4 points5 points  (3 children)

    Ive heard this line increasingly since like a year ago I feel like. Just heard it in the orville last night. So weird how that happens.


    No, that is the difference between bravery and courage


    Did this originate in Game of Thrones? It’s where I first read/saw it. Ned Stark all day baby.

    [–]confusedtopher 1457 points1458 points  (24 children)

    If a guy looked at me like Dave looks in that picture and said that to me I’d be terrified.

    [–]elanhilation 268 points269 points  (8 children)

    Just out of frame that man's got a pair of forceps and a spool of barbed wire.

    [–]enleeten 30 points31 points  (2 children)

    It sounds like something a movie villain would say to taunt a captured hero during enhanced interrogation procedures.

    [–]beneye 8 points9 points  (1 child)

    Dave looks like an 1800‘s philosopher

    [–]jtr99 7 points8 points  (1 child)

    [–]PaulTurkk 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    Zee diamonds!

    [–]MailOrderHusband 10 points11 points  (0 children)

    Santa issues?

    [–]CurraheeAniKawi 8 points9 points  (5 children)

    Yeah but if you could smell the pee running down his leg it might ease your tension a bit.

    [–]LOL_its_HANK 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    And then he finishes with stay out of my territory, and holds his glare.

    [–]KiZarohh 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    You know he's pretending not to be afraid of ANYTHING.

    [–]umjustpassingby 180 points181 points  (14 children)

    As a kid I was going to dentists a lot. And of course I was afraid. You sit there in line, listening to this devil maching buzzing and thinking about all the pain you are about to go through.

    But then one day I said to myself "If going through this is inevitable why fear? It doesn't help anyway." And that thought just "turned off" the fear completely, like it never existed. Since then my fear of dentists went away. To this day I am amazed that this trick worked.

    Sadly, I haven't been able to pull that off on other fears..

    [–]gingiva_ninja 62 points63 points  (5 children)

    Dentist here. Thank you. I don’t like firing up the devil machine anymore than you like receiving it. Fake it til you make it.

    [–]Azzanine 16 points17 points  (3 children)

    Why the fixation on the drill? it's the anesthetic needle that hurts most. Untill it kicks in.

    Had a root canal a while ago... Not. Fun. At. All.

    Didn't help i had like 3 more nerve canals than usual... maybe it's got something to do with having being born with only 3 bottom incisors, people usually have 4 right? Probably have atypical nerve configurations.

    [–]Jacoman74undeleted 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    I feel you on the root canals, I have a long family history of soft enamel, so once the cavity starts, the porosity of the surrounding enamel just accelerates the process. I've had several canals, and a couple pullings. Fuckin genetics man.

    [–]Acozi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    I don't believe you. I saw the documentary "Little Shop of Horrors" and they showed the true nature of dentists.

    [–]viciousbreed 16 points17 points  (0 children)

    Yeah. "This is happening, regardless of how I feel." I also am a fan of, 'This will be over, and at some point I will be on the other side of it, and glad that I did it."

    [–]Samygabriel 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    For me was playing Subnautica. I have an ungodly fear of the ocean, the unknown and all that. I went in last week and focusing on the objective made me play through A LOT of the game. When the big monster got me I had to hold W for a few seconds before finally saving and quitting the game but I think I did pretty well on swimming for hours hundreds of meters deep.

    [–]Azzanine 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Never get a root canal.... brush and floss your teeth seriously. Actually it's probably not that bad as i had like 3 extra nerve canals so even after they numbed me... they didn't quite numb me.

    They had to actually inject through the cavity as they could not hit all those rogue nerves.

    Was cruisy whilst it was propper numb though.

    [–]DaVinci_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Fake dentist here. That only worked bacause you never been in my clinic...(devil laugh intensifies)

    [–]HoIIand 1 point2 points  (0 children)


    [–]Mysticalbandana 373 points374 points  (30 children)

    Facing your fears isn’t “faking it” it’s being courageous.

    [–]n7-Jutsu 118 points119 points  (14 children)

    It takes courage to fake courage.

    [–]Kitakitakita3 73 points74 points  (10 children)

    People die when they are killed


    Wow. This is such an amazing and motivating quote. I have never thought of this.

    [–]Kitakitakita3 8 points9 points  (3 children)

    Thanks. I stole it from a poor fansub of an anime that was based off of a porno and is currently the basis of one of the most popular games in Japan.

    [–]Nachohead1996 2 points3 points  (2 children)

    Wait... Fate is based of a porno? ¿ ?

    [–]comp-sci-fi 7 points8 points  (1 child)

    The only thing we need to be courageous is courage itself.

    [–]AbsoIum 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    There in lies the paradox?

    [–]dnick 47 points48 points  (1 child)

    Shhhh, you’re giving away the secret...

    [–]reddit_user_70942239 15 points16 points  (0 children)

    Yeah let people think they're cheating (it's easier)

    [–]unpopularopinion0 17 points18 points  (1 child)

    semantics. it’s about the context. a way of explaining it from a perspective of one who hasn’t seen courageous but can imagine faking the opposite of their fear guiding their actions.


    This is what makes the quote actually motivating, instead of the generic feelgood crap which gets shared here all the time instead.

    [–]GritGrinder 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    I can't stand that saying "fake it till you make it".

    So many people assume it means you'll be famous if you're a fraud.

    Just sounds so unintelligent

    [–]Azzanine 1 point2 points  (2 children)

    True but being courageous might entail faking it.

    Say you are public speaking, its counter intuitive to look like a scared wreck. So you have to fake being calm and collected. At least till you are at the point of confidence.

    [–]Mysticalbandana 1 point2 points  (1 child)

    I see what you’re saying, just disagree.

    The whole thing’s just a matter of semantics. Though, I prefer (in regards to your public speaking example) to refer to it as “steeling oneself” rather than “faking” the act of being calm.

    But whatever works for you.

    [–]fuzzeenavel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    I think it helps a lot for public speaking. Im not ever going to be super comfortable with it, but I can pretend to not be nervois

    [–]dylansesco 5 points6 points  (5 children)

    Can be both.

    Imagine a dragon coming at you and all you have is a sword. You can scream like a little girl while flinching and wildly swinging the sword to slay the dragon.

    Or you can keep some composure about yourself and attack and defend more gracefully.

    That's the difference. Both facing your fears, but wildly different attitudes whilst doing so.

    [–]GoodHunter 2 points3 points  (1 child)

    I dunno, the first one you described seems more like an act of desperation or loss of reason. I wouldn't count that as courage.

    [–]dylansesco 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    The point was they would still be fighting as opposed to just running or cowering.

    [–][deleted] 203 points204 points  (7 children)

    I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer, the little death..

    [–]BaristaBasics3 62 points63 points  (1 child)

    I thought that was the French orgasm.

    [–][deleted] 44 points45 points  (0 children)

    La petite mort


    [–]viciousbreed 11 points12 points  (1 child)

    As weird as the Dune series got, this is really a quote to live by. Plus, it always reminds me that I can see how much I can move my pinky toe without moving any other toes when I'm bored.

    [–]Hu5k3r 9 points10 points  (0 children)

    Upvote for attempted pinky-toe movement

    [–]_tacotuesdays_ 12 points13 points  (0 children)

    Just the comment I was looking for as I finish off God Emperor 👍🏻 Looking forward to seeing what Denis Villeneuve can do with Dune.

    [–]MyGrownUpLife 5 points6 points  (0 children)

    that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear.

    [–]RagnarokTheSeventh 250 points251 points  (34 children)

    100% this. Half the time I'm scared of doing anything I just force myself to start and pretend I know what I'm doing. It works more often than you'd think

    [–]The_0range_Menace 95 points96 points  (5 children)

    Me too. I have walked into so many situations not knowing anything. I'm scared and if I let myself think about it, I'd be terrified. But I say "fuck it" and do it anyway.

    The difference between me and the guy that doesn't do the thing? Digging an extra couple inches down to find that fuck it.


    I love the freedom fuckit brings. A good space to be.

    [–]killingspeerx 25 points26 points  (4 children)

    pretend I know what I'm doing.

    Last time I did that I got fired :/


    Open heart surgery is a big deal.

    [–]AppleDrops16 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    I crashed. Should never have taken that car.

    [–]AnUndEadLlama 19 points20 points  (4 children)

    I use the "fuck it approach". Dont like heighs scared of the highdive/zip line when younger? "Fuck it" then jumped. Dont want to carry the coach or dont feel like I have the strengh? "Fuck it". Also the way I make a lot of decisions. There is a strange power to it.

    [–][deleted]  (3 children)


      [–]fleedtarks 8 points9 points  (2 children)

      And now you have PTSD because of all the jumping

      [–][deleted]  (1 child)



        Sir! This is a commercial flight. There are no parachutes.

        [–]MattytheWireGuy 21 points22 points  (0 children)

        Dont worry, the people that actually know what theyre doing will stay late and fix it for that sweet sweet overtime pay.

        [–]nelbell26 13 points14 points  (6 children)

        I love to travel and going to new places, this comes with going to places where no one speaks English- alone. The anxiety I face due to this every single time is unbearable and disorienting, to the point where I can't breathe. But every single time that has happened and I went forward with it pretending like "I got this!", it was worth it.

        [–]earbly7 5 points6 points  (1 child)

        But it still happens every time? Surely over time you're become more comfortable with being in that situation? Do you think there's an underlying anxiety-related problem/insecurity you could addres so as to not have to have trouble breathing??

        Every time i've been in that situation (which is a lot, I love travelling alone) I always find it to be an inspiring and motivating time to learn their language. It's just another fun layer of the journey!

        Like do you find it embarassing at first? I'm simply curious because honestly, i got over any embarassment or anxiety from stuff like that cause in the end, whoooo fucking cares. Who cares if someone thought I was silly or stupid or looked like an idiot. Those people don't matter and fuck letting them trip you up. I'm happy you've found a way to cope with it, but do you agree or disagree that there's still an underlying problem thats causing this reaction?

        [–]nelbell26 6 points7 points  (0 children)

        Yes, the fear of putting myself in an unknown situation scares me every time. There is an anxiety problem and an insecurity, yes.

        I took a job role on a whim (unknown situation, completely out of my comfort zone) under an extremely extroverted individual, he was a celebrity of sorts in the tiny country that I live in.. things didn't go so well to the point where he even said to me, "I should've hired a man for this job, they'd do it better. So nelbell26, understand that you have to work twice as hard to reach that level." I was dumbfounded, I looked up to this person and this is the opinion he had? He judged my introversion hard inspite of me mentioning this during the interview and didn't really have concrete plans when hiring me, he just did because he could. I was in an unknown situation with no valid work visa and my career was.. nonexistent. I quit immediately after and my faith in my work ethic deteriorated until recently.. I hold 3 jobs and I'm doing extremely well career wise.

        I know the above situation is not related to traveling but a new environment makes me anxious as hell due to it. So I throw myself in it more often to get over the fear and I've realized that only 1 in 5 situations turn out to be awful so I take the chance.

        [–]Theycallmelizardboy4 2 points3 points  (5 children)

        What specifically are these things?

        [–]chuko12_3 1 point2 points  (3 children)

        At work: Boss: Can you make sure these electrical plans meet the code? Me: yes I then proceed to google how to do it

        [–]Theycallmelizardboy4 2 points3 points  (2 children)

        With rising educational costs, a shaky stock market, increasing wealth disparity and the lack of promising career jobs im surprised if anyone does anything but Google everything.

        [–]OldMetroMedic 2 points3 points  (0 children)

        alright focus! Ragnor which wire are we suppose to cut!! 3. .2 .1 beep boop

        [–]fuzzyduckies 1 point2 points  (0 children)

        Sometimes I think that’s what everyone does anyway. There’s no such thing as “courage” the way everyone thinks. Everyone’s scared as shit just trying their best.

        [–]DigmanRandt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

        You believe that you can do anything until you are convinced that you can't, and that isn't your fault.

        Normally, as children age, they are subjected to the harsh critique of their peers and, prior to the development of their capacity to utilize reciprocal awareness, are easily moulded as far as likes, dislikes, and beliefs are concerned.

        You like things for personal reasons until you are told not to like them. You are good at things until you are told otherwise.

        You are brave until you are convinced that you are not. If lying to yourself helps you reach through to who you are, lie away.

        [–]ProgrammingPants 122 points123 points  (11 children)

        I've actually found that blatantly lying to myself about my emotions has only had detrimental effects.

        If you're afraid, but just pretend not to be, you're still going to be afraid. The difference is that now you're acting out of fear, and you aren't even fully cognizant of why you're acting this way.

        It's better to be afraid, acknowledge this fear, understand this fear, and own this fear.

        And when you own the fear, you're no longer acting out of fear. You're acting of your own accord, cognitively and actively sidestepping the pitfalls your fear tries to lead you down.

        Life isn't so simple that you can just "stop being afraid" by imagining it away. That's not how it works. Being afraid is a natural and inevitable state of being.

        So you'd be better off learning how to deal with it.

        [–]erebospegasus 21 points22 points  (4 children)

        Exactly. For example as a person with anxiety this whole fake your feelings is a lie and only increases the anxiety if I pretend it is not there.

        Feelings are natural algorithms developed throughout millions of years for our survival and even if sometimes they go haywire for biochemical imbalances they shouldn't be lied.

        As for feelings like happiness and sadness I like the Buddhist approach of being an observer of your own feelings, and learning to admit we can't control them, and they come and go. When you realize that you stop pursuing these feelings because it's like chasing a ghost that always disappears and you achieve piece of mind.

        [–]FalmerEldritch 3 points4 points  (1 child)

        Yeah I've tried the whole "pretending not to be scared" thing as a solution to being scared of things, and what I've gotten out of it is mostly palpitations, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, numbness and tingling, and the occasional rash.

        [–]viciousbreed 5 points6 points  (0 children)

        Well-said. It's not about ignoring your fear so much as acknowledging it and moving beyond it. You can't stop being afraid, and fear has its purpose. It is there for a logical reason. But it should be a factor in your decision-making process, and serve its purpose without being the driving force. Or something.

        [–]Sir_Askalot 2 points3 points  (0 children)

        That’s surprisingly deep and well told. Thank you for this.

        [–]WildWook 36 points37 points  (3 children)

        I disagree. Outward display of confidence doesn't = the same performance as genuine confidence. Someone nervous about a task is more likely to fail than someone confident in the same task. This is because anxiety causes us to make errors we normally wouldn't make had we attempted the task with confidence.

        Pretending not to be afraid may be good in situations where other people's comfort depends on how you appear, for instance when going into surgery. You don't want your cardio-thoracic surgeon to look as if he's going to shit himself right before you go under anesthesia.

        [–]0OO0OO0O0OO00O0OO000 1 point2 points  (0 children)

        Bingo. There is probably additional context in which the quote is more sensible. But as it stands, it's only a half-step away from "Pretending not to be incompetent is just as good as actually being competent."


        "Fail it 'till you nail it."


        Shows actual progress not just "faking" something and expecting to be good at what you're striving for.

        [–]uncle_soondead 2 points3 points  (3 children)


        [–]PeterSR 5 points6 points  (2 children)

        Get ready for the Peter Principle.

        [–]uncle_soondead 1 point2 points  (1 child)

        lol I get what you are saying but "Promoted!" is a Neebs Gaming slogan.

        [–]SnappyDogDays 20 points21 points  (3 children)

        ...Especially when you have a private room to bang your employees....

        [–]Aopap 2 points3 points  (0 children)

        I double ask ELI19

        [–]Matt463789 9 points10 points  (7 children)

        I wish he had this conviction when he wussed out with Bill Hicks' stand-up segment on The Late Show.

        [–]sehajodido 10 points11 points  (2 children)

        He owned up to it? And had Hicks' mother on his show where he aired the segment posthumously.

        [–]TakingCareOfBizzness 6 points7 points  (1 child)

        Wow, I looked up the clip after reading your post. I am impressed with how Letterman handled that. He took full responsibility and his apology seemed very sincere. But, why the fuck was the audience laughing during the serious parts?

        [–]dancingpinata 2 points3 points  (0 children)

        Nervous laughter perhaps? That plus laughing is largely a social act- if someone laughs you're more likely to do so too.


        Been faking it for 42 years!!

        [–]Beanyurza 4 points5 points  (2 children)

        So, lie until you beleive the lie yourself?


        Easy to say but it gets tiring every single day

        [–]Llamamilkdrinker 3 points4 points  (0 children)

        'Being brave is being the only one who knows you're afraid'

        [–][deleted] 26 points27 points  (29 children)

        I disagree with this saying.

        [–]Cato_theElder 48 points49 points  (2 children)

        Have you seen the interview where he said this? He was talking to John Lewis about crossing the bridge in Selma, where Lewis and peaceful protesters walked calmly for the right to vote, in the face of riot police, dogs, and hoses. If you were part of that march and you kept your composure, even if you were afraid internally, I'd argue that would count as courage.

        Furthermore, Carthage must be destroyed.


        Title is misleading

        [–]The_0range_Menace 4 points5 points  (18 children)


        [–][deleted]  (17 children)


          [–]ShaneTrainG 10 points11 points  (8 children)

          There’s a difference between “disregarding your emotions” or “bottling up your emotions...” and ignoring negative thoughts in order to overcome something. Many times our fears are not needed and are more intrusive lies that we tell ourselves than real emotions.


          I take it to mean confronting them. For example, afraid to do something? Pretend you're not afraid and do it anyway, you'll have confronted that fear and realize it may not have been as bad as you thought.

          [–][deleted]  (5 children)


            [–]kuttymongoose 0 points1 point  (4 children)

            Haha! Can I ask what you do?

            [–]n7-Jutsu 3 points4 points  (0 children)

            Test Dildos for a living.

            [–]Cazadore901 2 points3 points  (0 children)

            "Being brace doesn't mean having no fear. Being brave is moving forward despite all your fears"

            [–]Falcond0rf 2 points3 points  (0 children)

            I can confirm that forcing myself into social situations against my will and adapting and analyzing is how I learned to be social in the first place

            [–]iamwithithere 3 points4 points  (0 children)

            I have a feeling my S.O. is doing this in the bedroom.

            [–]kindofboredd 5 points6 points  (0 children)

            Now take off your panties if you want to keep your career!

            [–]nowthisismyworld 22 points23 points  (17 children)

            People that post this garbage obviously have never dealt with, or been around people who deal with mental illness. Yeah. Let me pretend not to be afraid. I’m sure that’ll fix my anxiety. Thanks.

            [–][deleted]  (1 child)


              [–]viciousbreed 6 points7 points  (0 children)

              "Fake it 'til you make it" doesn't really work for mental illness, no. Pretending the fear isn't there, or that you can just sweep it under the rug, is harmful. We already spend a lot of time hiding our problems and pretending to NOT be depressed/anxious/what-have-you. It pisses me off when people say stuff like that. As I have said to others, "You can't logic your way out of anxiety." You know it's unreasonable, but the reaction is happening anyway. I know it can be irritating to see "motivational" stuff like this that is geared toward people without mental illness, especially when you know they will quote it to you when they try to "help" you. I don't know where I'm going with this, other than to say that I know how you feel when you're irritated with stuff like this. <3


              The definition of courage is doing things anyways. Routine makes things easier.

              [–]JayPetey 4 points5 points  (1 child)

              Some of the core exercises in Cognitive Behavior Therapy to help with anxiety are in line with the inherent philosophy with this quote. It might not be always be as simple as “fake it,” but thought restructuring practice isn’t entirely unlike “faking it.”

              [–]proverbialbunny 4 points5 points  (3 children)

              Most fear is the feeling of seeing something unknown. If it is known that it is unknown, the feeling of fear goes away. Just examine it.

              [–]0OO0OO0O0OO00O0OO000 2 points3 points  (1 child)


              This may be true of the things younger people worry about like a job interview or a school dance. It isn't true in general. Pregnancy complications, cancer scares, baby monitor going silent. Life happens and can frighten you in a way that can't just be waved away.

              [–]Astilaroth 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              r/spiderbro is the best example of it. So many people are subbed there because they fear spiders and want to tackle that fear by learning more about them. It's awesome. r/awwnverts and such too.

              [–]lolmanlee 3 points4 points  (0 children)

              what a useless post.

              [–]SunshineFloors927 7 points8 points  (3 children)

              I love that David Letterman but that is the dumbest s*** I've ever heard in my life

              [–]Lurking_Apple 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              I agree it’s dumb, but in the context it is said it is not. /u/cato_theelder wrote a good comment about the context.


              Better, in fact. Fear and any other emotion is a source of energy you can feed on. Simply not being afraid is a matter of indifference.

              [–]360walkaway 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              George Lazenby is an expert in faking your way in.

              [–]HeyMang 1 point2 points  (2 children)

              I wish that every time someone posted a picture of someone with a quote next to it, they would link the source verifying that said person actually said the quote.

              [–]Coyrex1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              When did dave Letterman grow a giant beard?

              [–]Chabranigdo 1 point2 points  (3 children)

              Maybe I'm just old school here, but faking a lack of fear is so much better than not having fear, presuming you have cause to actually be afraid. Fear is a very valid response that keeps you alive. If you have no fear, you're pretty screwed.

              Insert rant about bravery being in spite of fear, not in absence of it, ect ect.


              Im slowly warming up to his beard.

              [–]PianoDevil 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              It's legendary

              [–]AppleDrops16 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              First time I saw it: meh

              2nd time: wow that beard really suits Dave.

              [–]Inaglasscage 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              ... unless you’re really bad at pretending.


              GIF wisdom ... Which makes absolutely no practical sense

              [–]JohonnysVittnen 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              Heroes aren’t born, they get cornered

              [–]ApeInDrapes 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              This is actually the basis of exposure and response prevention, where someone scared of something exposes themselves to it, pretends not to be afraid, and eventually is no longer afraid

              [–]-N3ptun3- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              but how tho

              [–]SilliusSwordus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              as JP said... nobody truly ever gets over their fears. They just become braver and better at confronting them.

              [–]Koulyone 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              Yea because if you are faking it, someone's is going to find out.

              [–]Quadruple_Pounders 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              Also possible to fake it and still fall flat on your face. I hate how this advice gets passed off as though it's a guarantee that you'll make it.

              [–]sneakybadness7 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              There's no difference courage isn't the lack of fear. You can't have courage without fear. Courage is what you do with your fear

              [–]Xierxe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              But then, pretending to be afraid even though you aren't, will produce the same effect?

              [–]ultranothing 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              He had a beard now, so he's a philosopher. Beard = philosopher.

              [–]kittapea 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              This was an ongoing argument with my SO and I for years, until I dropped it. He’s a software architect and I would tell him for job applications he should say he is familiar with certain software code on his CV. He would tell me I was crazy, that you need to know the code well. My argument was that being familiar is not the same as knowledgeable. I dropped it as most of his interviews included a tech portion by phone having him write a quick piece of code.

              My question is, he would be telling the truth, familiar with the code but not experienced. What do you software redditors put on your resumes/CV’s?

              [–]Soruze 1 point2 points  (2 children)

              Faking courage can inspire actual courage in others.

              [–]Gullyvuhr 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              The funny thing about courage is that you can only really have it when you're afraid.

              [–]BizzyM 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              As someone who is beginning to understand that I may have an anxiety issue, this is basically how I've lived my entire life.

              I've stood in front of crowds with my insides trembling and fingers and toes tingling even though mentally I was not worried or nervous. It's physically exhausting dealing with the physiological reaction to fear, stress, and anxiety when mentally you have no fear, stress, or anxiety.

              [–]RealThot 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              This is what I’m doing right now! I’m interning with the KY State legislature and I have no idea what I’m doing or “got” myself into... BUT! I’m pretending to know what I’m doing and not trying to look afraid. Good luck y’all !

              [–]FooFighter616 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              Can only see Neil Patrick Harris in a fake beard

              [–][deleted]  (6 children)


                [–][deleted]  (5 children)



                  They say a man dies twice. Once, when you stop breathing, and a second time, a bit later on, the last time someone mentions your name.

                  May we live a life worthy to remember, for if our deeds live forever, we live forever.

                  [–]Astilaroth 2 points3 points  (0 children)

                  Aw reminds me of how some old lonely folks are found dead months after their death because rent is overdue or whatever ... they die the other way 'round, name first, then breath.

                  [–]jump101 6 points7 points  (1 child)

                  Same thing with people throwing life savings in bitcoin.

                  [–]SkoomaAddict97 5 points6 points  (3 children)

                  Sorry but this is not true. I tried doing this for three years of suffering through depression and anxiety, and it progressively got worse until I started taking antidepressants, which saved my life

                  [–]Knight_On_Fire 5 points6 points  (6 children)

                  You mean when you're banging all your female staff a year after your child was born?

                  [–]WhiteBuffalo13 3 points4 points  (0 children)

                  Do until you become.