Fear is something we all experience in ways both big and small, but few are as deliciously expressive as being “afraid of one’s own shadow.” Let’s explore this timid turn of phrase… without too many jump scares.
Afraid of One’s Own Shadow
😱 Afraid of one’s own shadow - Extremely timid, excessively fearful. In Richard III (ca. 1513), Sir Thomas More penned, “Who may lette her feare her owne shadowe,” though a few years later Erasmus cited Plato as having mentioned the same concept in Greek centuries before. Henry David Thoreau used the phrase to critique the timidity of Concord’s town selectmen in refusing to toll the parish bell at John Brown’s hanging (1859). By Thoreau’s time, this phrase was already two centuries old.
Related and Similar Terms/Expressions
- Chicken-hearted - Oppositely plucky poultry.
- Scaredy-cat - Anyone who’s ever bolted from a cucumber will understand.
- Faint-hearted - Symptoms may include fading at the slightest whisper of danger.
- Nervous Nelly - The type who always needs to know where the restroom is.
- Worrywart - An overabundance of “what-ifs” growing on the brain.
- Jumpy - Ever-ready to leap at the creak of a floorboard.
Proverbs
- “He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat.” - Napoleon Bonaparte wasn’t known for his moments of timid retreat.
- “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to face it.” - A reminder to take those trembling steps anyway.
Some Synonyms and Antonyms
- Synonyms: Timorous, cowed, petrified, skittish
- Antonyms: Brave, daring, fearless, intrepid
Humor-filled Quotes
- “I was scared stiff. I’m not darned if I wasn’t afraid of my own shadow!” - Mark Twain (Except Twain might’ve said it in a quintessentially American drawl.)
- “Fear can make you do many things; it’s writing this sentence while hiding under a bed.” - Fictitious Author, Mildred Afraid-y
Recommended Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies
- Book: The Courage to be by Paul Tillich - Irony being Tillich’s encouragement to embrace the anxiety of existence.
- Song: “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees - Because sometimes courage is washing that shadow off in the first sunshine.
- Poetry: Hope is the Thing with Feathers by Emily Dickinson - For when you need a touch of comforting imagery.
- Movie: The Wizard of Oz - Previously believed to be about wizards and witches, actually an exploration of assorted complex neuroses.
As we escort our timid exploration back into the safe, well-lit corner of fearless expression, remember:
“Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’”
–Mary Anne Radmacher
With love and courage,
B. C. Goosebumps
