George W. Bush revels in being a war president. His campaign is shamelessly exploiting the fears generated by 9/11. Vice President Cheney is conjuring mushroom clouds into our cities. But fear is a bad counselor; we must resist it wherever it comes from. President Roosevelt had the right idea when he said, 'We have nothing to fear but Fear itself.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- This passage criticizes political figures for exploiting fear after 9/11, arguing that fear is a poor guide for decision-making and citing Roosevelt.
- In plain terms
- Leaders are using fear to win support, but fear leads to bad decisions.
- What can you take from it?
- Resist making policy decisions based on fear.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How should leaders handle fear?
- When is fear useful?
Another view
Fear can sometimes motivate necessary protective actions in genuine emergencies.
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