He who fears he shall suffer, already suffers what he fears.

[Qui craint de souffrir, il souffre desja de ce qu’il craint.]

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 3, ch. 13 (3.13), “Of Experience [De l’Experience] (1587) [tr. Cotton/Hazlitt (1877)]
    (Source)

This essay first appeared in the 2nd edition (1588); this passage was added for the 3rd edition (1595).

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

Who feareth to suffer, suffereth alreadie, because he feareth.
[tr. Florio (1603)]

Who fears to suffer, does already suffer what he fears.
[tr. Cotton (1686)]

He who dreads suffering already suffers what he dreads.
[tr. Ives (1925)]

He who fears he shall suffer, already suffers because of his fear.
[tr. Zeitlin (1934)]

He who fears he will suffer, already suffers from his fear.
[tr. Frame (1943)]

He who is afraid of suffering already suffers from his own fears.
[tr. Cohen (1958)]

A man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears.
[Source (1958)]

Anyone who is afraid of suffering suffers already of being afraid.
[tr. Screech (1987)]


 
Added on 25-May-12 | Last updated 23-Jul-25
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