'It's a lion, I know it's a lion,' thought Shasta. 'I'm done. I wonder, will it hurt much? I wish it was over. I wonder, does anything happen to people after they're dead? O-o-oh! Here it comes! ... Why, it's not nearly as big as I thought! It's only half the size. No, it isn't even quarter the size. I do declare it's only the cat!! I must have dreamed all that about its being as big as a horse.' (ch. 6)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Shasta fears a lion but discovers it is actually a small cat, showing how fear magnifies threats.
- In plain terms
- Fear makes problems seem bigger than they really are.
- What can you take from it?
- Face your fears to find they are often smaller than imagined.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What fears have you exaggerated?
- How does anxiety change your view?
Another view
Fear is sometimes justified if the threat is real.
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