Who said “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”?

Verified

Franklin D. Roosevelt. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceFirst Inaugural Address (1933), Part of this is

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: First Inaugural Address (1933), Part of this is.

APA

Roosevelt, F. D. (n.d.). The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/17862-the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is/

MLA

Roosevelt, Franklin D. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/17862-the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Roosevelt, Franklin D. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/17862-the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is/.