“Fear is temporary; regret is forever”

“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.”