'Fear is a hammer, and when the people are beaten finally to the conviction that their existence hangs by a frayed thread, they will be led where they need to go.' 'Which is where?' 'To a responsible future in a properly managed world.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Fear can be used to force people to accept control if they feel their safety is threatened.
- In plain terms
- When people are scared enough, they will follow leaders who promise safety.
- What can you take from it?
- Be wary of leaders who use fear to gain power.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who benefits from your fear?
- Is security worth total control?
Another view
Fear is sometimes a necessary signal for legitimate security threats.
More from Dean R. Koontz
Experts must read the patterns and judge their usefulness as evidence. Under any of numerous pressures, an expert may wish to misread a pattern or even to alte…
Permalink to quote #44 In a world that daily disconnects further from truth, more and more people accept the virtual in place of the real, and all things virtual are also malleable.
Permalink to quote #43 Sheep were docile, yes, but vigilant. Unlike many people, sheep were always aware that predators existed and were alert for the scent and the schemes of wolves…
Permalink to quote #42
Related quotes
...there came a point when if a conspiracy was that powerful and subtle it became pointless to worry about it.
Iain BanksIain Banks quote #7 If those in charge of our society - politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television - can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in thei…
Howard ZinnHoward Zinn quote #1 The best political weapon is the weapon of terror. Cruelty commands respect. Men may hate us. But, we don't ask for their love; only for their fear.
Heinrich HimmlerHeinrich Himmler quote #2