“Fear is temporary; regret is forever/permanent” is a saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as T-shirts, posters and bumper stickers. The saying has been cited in print since at least April 1999 and is of unknown authorship; two 1999 citations are from a skydiving newsgroup.
1 April 1999, Victoria (TX) Advocate, “Writer’s worst fear is regret” by Stacy Hagaman Novak:
She said, “Fear is temporary. Regret is forever.”
Google Groups: rec.skydiving
ZSKYJMPR
4/23/99
Fear is temporary, Regret is forever. You must have complete confidence in your drop zone and your tandem master.
Google Groups: rec.skydiving
JWJUMPS
11/8/99
FYI 1400 jumps 32 hours…5 years
It only gets better…keep jumping!!
Fear is Temporary…Regret is permanent.
Google Books
Never Die Wondering:
The Alistair MacLeod Story
By Alistair MacLeod
Cooper Plains, Qld.: Book Pal
2009
Pg. 300:
Fear is temporary regret is permanent.
Tampa Bay (FL) Times
An intriguing Rays stadium idea for Tampa
Ernest Hooper, Times Columnist/East Hillsborough Bureau Chief
Sunday, September 25, 2011 9:38pm
(...)
Seen on a T-shirt: Fear is temporary. Regret is forever. …
Google Books
Don’t Let Me Go
By J. H. Trumble
New York, NY: Kensington Publishing Corp.
2012
Pg. 111:
He read the tattoo out loud. “Fear is temporary. Regret is forever.”
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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