What worries you, masters you.
- John Locke
John Locke’s quote, “What worries you, masters you,” is short but deeply insightful.
At its core, Locke is expressing a timeless truth about the power of thought and attention. When we allow worry or fear to dominate our minds, we give it control over our actions, emotions, and even our peace. The things we dwell on begin to shape our behavior and decisions, often in ways we don’t notice.
Worry is a kind of mental submission. The more you focus on what frightens or frustrates you, the more influence it gains. It begins to dictate how you think, what you avoid, and how you see the world. In this way, the object of your anxiety becomes your master, not because it deserves that power, but because you handed it over through constant attention and emotional energy.
Locke’s insight is both a warning and a call to freedom. It reminds us that mental mastery begins with attention management — choosing where to direct our focus. When we train ourselves to focus on what we can control rather than what we fear, we regain autonomy. By refusing to let worry take root, we keep our power where it belongs: within ourselves.
In modern terms, this quote could be rephrased as:
“Whatever consumes your thoughts controls your life.”
Freedom, then, isn’t just political or physical — it’s psychological. True independence comes when you refuse to let your worries rule your mind.