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Chapter XV.—Concerning Fear.

Fear is divided into six varieties: viz., shrinking 1825 , shame, disgrace, consternation, panic, anxiety 1826 . Shrinking 1827 is fear of some act about to take place. Shame is fear arising from the anticipation of blame: and this is the highest form of the affection. Disgrace is fear springing from some base act already done, and even for this form there is some hope of salvation. Consternation is fear originating in some huge product of the imagination. Panic is fear caused by some unusual product of the imagination. Anxiety is fear of failure, that is, of misfortune: for when we fear that our efforts will not meet with success, we suffer anxiety.


Footnotes

33b:1825

ὄκνος, dread.

33b:1826

ἀγωνία.

33b:1827

Nemesius and certain manuscripts give these species of fear in a different order, viz., dread, consternation, panic, anxiety, shame, disgrace.


Next: Concerning Anger.