“Worrying works! 90% of the things I worry about never happen”
“Worrying works! 90% of the things I worry about never happen” (or “90% of the things I worry about never happen. Worrying works!”) is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. The percentage of things that don’t happen when the speaker does not worry is not known, but is probably about the same percentage. The 90% figure is not proof that “worrying works,” but this is just a joke.
“Someone very wise once said that most of what we worry about never even happens. That has been my experience. And that is precisely why I worry: It works!” was printed in the Rapid City (IA) Journal on June 5, 1997. “Worrying works; 90 percent of the things I worry about never happen” was printed in the Atlanta (GA) Journal-Constitution on August 12, 1999. “Worrying works!!! 90% of the things I worry about never happen” was printed in The Index (Hermitage, MO) on November 10, 1999.
“Ninety percent of the things I worry about never happen !!! Worrying works” was posted on X/Twitter by eddie 💙 on September 30, 2014. “90% of the things I worry about never happen. Worrying works!” was posted on X/Twitter by Alwyn Smith (SAAEA) on August 18, 2017. “90% of the things I worry about never happen WORRYING WORKS” (shown on an image) was posted on iFunny on October 18, 2025.
Newspapers.com
5 June 1997, Rapid City (IA) Journal, “My motive for worrying: Worry works” by Dorothy Rosby, pg. C1, col. 5:
Someone very wise once said that most of what we worry about never even happens. That has been my experience. And that is precisely why I worry: It works!
Newspapers.com
12 August 1999, Atlanta (GA) Journal-Constitution, “The Vent,” pg. D2, col. 1:
Worrying works; 90 percent of the things I worry about never happen.
Newspapers.com
10 November 1999, The Index (Hermitage, MO), pg. 6A, col. 1 ad:
Worrying works!!! 90% of the things I worry about never happen.
(Korsi Heating & Air Conditioning.—ed.)
Google Groups: alt.culture.hawaii
Bumper Stickers
alohacyberian
Oct 15, 2000, 2:31:41 AM
Worrying works! 90% of the things we worry about never happen.
Google Groups: alt.humor.jewish
Oneliners
Renee
Oct 14, 2000, 3:00:00 AM
(...)
Worrying works! 90% of the things we worry about never happen.
Google Groups: alt.med.cfs
HUM: Worrying
Joan Landsberg
Feb 18, 2001, 9:08:37 AM
“It doesn’t do any good for you to worry like that,” said a woman to her friend.
“Worrying works for me,” replied the friend. “Ninety percent of the things I worry about never happen!”
Google Groups: alt.gothic
Vital Statistics from the Netscrape
Metamorph
Feb 28, 2001, 4:34:33 AM
(...)
Worrying works! 90% of the things I worry about never happen.
X/Twitter
Marryam Chaudhry
@CoachMarryam
Worrying works! 90% of the things I worry about never happen.
11:51 AM · Feb 28, 2009
X/Twitter
Roger James Hamilton
@rogerhamilton
Today’s pessimist quote: “Worrying works! 90% of the things I worry about never happen.”
10:54 PM · Sep 18, 2009
X/Twitter
milk
@miilkkk
Worrying works!...... 90% of the things u worry about never happen
1:22 PM · Dec 30, 2010
X/Twitter
OMGFactsSex
@OMGFactsSex
Worrying works! 90% of the things I worry about never happen.
12:01 PM · Apr 17, 2013
X/Twitter
eddie 💙
@EddieEddiboy70
@tindrafrost Ninety percent of the things I worry about never happen !!!
Worrying works xD
11:05 PM · Sep 30, 2014
X/Twitter
Abid Zaidi
@AbidZaidi1
“Worrying Works”
90% of the things I worry about, never happen !
(The saying is also shown on an image.—ed.)
10:25 PM · Jan 7, 2015
X/Twitter
FoggyBottomGal ™️
@foggybottomgal
Worrying works! 90% of the things I worry about never happen! http://itunes.apple.com/app/id892525499?at=11lv8V&ct=LMAO
(This is also shown on an image.—ed.)
10:44 PM · Oct 23, 2016
X/Twitter
Alwyn Smith (SAAEA)
@smitwiffahuh
90% of the things I worry about never happen. Worrying works!
5:27 AM · Aug 18, 2017
X/Twitter
Salem Marafi
@salemmarafi
90% of the things I worry about never happen. Worrying works.
11:00 PM · Jan 16, 2019
X/Twitter
Amanda Blain ●
@amandablain
Worrying works! 90% of the things I worry about never happen.
1:03 PM · Mar 2, 2023
X/Twitter
Bob Golen
@BobGolen
Worrying works! 90% of the things I worry about never happen.
9:20 AM · Apr 20, 2024
Bluesky
Sus Scrofa
@susscrofa.bsky.social
🤣
[Bob Golen
Worrying works! 90% of the things I worry about never happen.
ALT]
April 21, 2024 at 12:27 PM
iFunny
rishlass88
18 October 2025
90% of the things I worry about never happen WORRYING WORKS