Full Idea
The belief that fire will burn me is of the same kind as the fear that it will burn me.
Gist of Idea
The belief that fire burns is like the fear that it burns
Source
Ludwig Wittgenstein (Philosophical Investigations [1952], §473)
Book Reference
Wittgenstein,Ludwig: 'Philosophical Investigations', ed/tr. Anscombe,E. [Blackwell 1972], p.134
A Reaction
Most of our beliefs are forced on us, rather than chosen, and this nice remark gives an indication of the reason. It dovetails with Peirce's pragmatic approach to be belief (e.g. Idea 6598), which is well developed by Robert Fogelin.
Related Idea
Idea 6598 We need our beliefs to be determined by some external inhuman permanency [Peirce]