Nahj al-Balagha Hadith n. 175

Selections from The Sayings and Preaching of Amir al-Muminin Ali ibn Abi Talib (Peace Be Upon Him) Including His Replies to Questions and Maxims Expressed for Various Purposes.
Translated by Sayyid Ali Reza

وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام):

Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, said:

إِذَا هِبْتَ أَمْراً

When you are afraid of something

فَقَعْ فِيهِ،

dive straight into it,

فَإِنَّ شِدَّةَ تَوَقِّيهِ

because the intensity of abstaining from it

أَعْظَمُ مِمَّا تَخَافُ مِنْهُ.

is greater (worse) than what you are afraid of.