Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil.

Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil. Most of the time when you're afraid of something, you're not seeing it clearly.

The generality of men are naturally swayed more by fear than by reverence, and to refrain from evil rather because of the punishment that it brings than because of its own foulness

Anticipating pain was like enduring it twice. Why not anticipate pleasure instead?

After she's gone, another brief lull sets in. This one is probably the last. But what good is a lull? It's only a breathing spell in which to get more frightened. Because anticipatory fear is always twice as strong as present fear. Anticipatory fear has both fears in it at once - the anticipatory one and the one that comes simultaneously with the dread happening itself. Present fear only has the one, because by that time anticipation is over.

("New York Blues")

He who has overcome his fears will truly be free.