Full Idea
He is a fool who says that he fears death not because it will be painful when present but because it is painful when it is still to come.
Gist of Idea
It is absurd to fear the pain of death when you are not even facing it
Source
Epicurus (Letter to Menoeceus [c.291 BCE], 125)
Book Reference
Epicurus: 'The Epicurus Reader', ed/tr. Inwood,B. /Gerson,L. [Hackett 1994], p.29
A Reaction
Not very plausible, I'm afraid. It provides a good argument in favour of smoking, if the lung cancer is far in the future. Paralysing fear is daft, but some remote fears should be heeded.