proverb · Words worth keeping
Fear is only temporary. Regrets last forever.
Fear is only temporary. Regrets last forever.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying contrasts temporary fear with everlasting regret. It encourages action by presenting hesitation as short-lived and missed opportunity as permanent.
What the words are saying
Only and forever make the comparison absolute. A responsible reading can examine the pressure used to motivate action without verifying either duration. A useful application weighs a particular opportunity and its risks; it should not treat fear as always misplaced or promise that taking a chance prevents regret.
Everyday example
Someone considers a manageable opportunity, its costs and alternatives instead of deciding from the slogan alone.
When to use it
Use it critically to discuss hesitation and possible regret.
What it does not mean
Fear and regret have no guaranteed duration here; action can also bring regret.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 69; PDF page 14
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.