--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fear was a wonderful propellant, and such…" description: "\"“Fear was a wonderful propellant, and such a strong exponent of survival, even at the cost of others. Civility, it seemed, was the first to perish in a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad4/andrew-barrett-26642_civility_fear-was-a-wonderful-propellant-and-such_803307.jpg" --- # Fear was a wonderful propellant, and such a strong… ![“Fear was a wonderful propellant, and such a strong exponent of survival, even at the cost of others. Civility, it seemed, was the first to perish in a disaster.” quote by Andrew Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad4/andrew-barrett-26642_civility_fear-was-a-wonderful-propellant-and-such_803307.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad4/andrew-barrett-26642_civility_fear-was-a-wonderful-propellant-and-such_803307.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad4/andrew-barrett-26642_civility_fear-was-a-wonderful-propellant-and-such_803307.jpg) > ““Fear was a wonderful propellant, and such a strong exponent of survival, even at the cost of others. Civility, it seemed, was the first to perish in a disaster.”” [Andrew Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-barrett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear can drive survival but also erode civility, especially during crises, leading to a loss of social harmony. **In simple terms:** Fear helps survive but harms civility in disasters. Key Takeaway Balance fear with empathy to preserve civility. Themes psychology ethics crisis society Mood reflective serious Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - emergency response - community building - leadership training Key Concepts fear as motivator civil discourse human behavior Questions to Reflect On - What role should fear play in decision making? - How can societies maintain civility under stress? 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