--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When politicians use fear, they are…" description: "\"When politicians use fear, they are playing into the enemy's hand.\" — John Mellencamp" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/john-mellencamp-5745_enemy_when-politicians-use-fear-they-are-playi_2762570.jpg" --- # When politicians use fear, they are playing into the… ![“When politicians use fear, they are playing into the enemy's hand.” quote by John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/john-mellencamp-5745_enemy_when-politicians-use-fear-they-are-playi_2762570.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/john-mellencamp-5745_enemy_when-politicians-use-fear-they-are-playi_2762570.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/john-mellencamp-5745_enemy_when-politicians-use-fear-they-are-playi_2762570.jpg) > “When politicians use fear, they are playing into the enemy's hand.” [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political fear‑mongering empowers opponents, undermining democratic resilience. **In simple terms:** Fear tactics help enemies. Key Takeaway Resist fear‑based politics. Themes politics psychology social influence Mood urgent reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - campaign strategy - public debates - education programs Key Concepts propaganda civic engagement media literacy Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens stay informed without panic? - What safeguards protect democracy? A Different Perspective Fear can also mobilize voters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [Use your enemy's hand to catch a snake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/persian-proverb/use-your-enemy-s-hand-to-catch-a-snake/) [Persian Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/persian-proverb/) > [There is no disgrace in an enemy suffering ill at an enemy's hand, when you hate mutually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/there-is-no-disgrace-in-an-enemy-suffering-ill-at-an-enemy-s-hand/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [Politicians use statistics in the same way that a drunk uses lamp-postsfor support rather than illumination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/politicians-use-statistics-in-the-same-way-that-a-drunk-uses-lamp/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [I don't know that I would say words are more political now, particularly after Donald Trump has come into office. I will say that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/i-don-t-know-that-i-would-say-words-are-more-political-now/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [It is amazing how many of the intelligentsia call it "greed" to want to keep what you have earned, but not greed to want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/it-is-amazing-how-many-of-the-intelligentsia-call-it-greed-to-want-to/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [I wanted to touch on the piece where often politicians use "god" to excuse their actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mckeown/i-wanted-to-touch-on-the-piece-where-often-politicians-use-god-to/) [Erin McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mckeown/) > [I have a clean image. I want to serve the people with humility and sincerity. Politicians have made use of peoples' votes but do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiranjeevi/i-have-a-clean-image-i-want-to-serve-the-people-with-humility-and/) [Chiranjeevi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiranjeevi/) > [I think 'community,' in the sense in which politicians use, it is largely a cant term.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lanchester/i-think-community-in-the-sense-in-which-politicians-use-it-is-largely/) [John Lanchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lanchester/) > [Politicians who do not use the Bible to guide their public and private lives do not belong in office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-lahaye/politicians-who-do-not-use-the-bible-to-guide-their-public-and/) [Beverly LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-lahaye/) > [I've not seen in my lifetime any politician who is a heroic figure. The manipulation that all politicians use on one level or another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/i-ve-not-seen-in-my-lifetime-any-politician-who-is-a-heroic-figure/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [At a time when the public is sour on politicians, have no use for them, Bill Clinton has risen to a different level. Bill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/at-a-time-when-the-public-is-sour-on-politicians-have-no-use-for-them/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [A magic trick of any sort works because you tell yourself a story about what you see. And politicians use this all the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derren-brown/a-magic-trick-of-any-sort-works-because-you-tell-yourself-a-story/) [Derren Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derren-brown/) > [If you watch the news, you see politicians use human vulnerabilities to get in and earn people's trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morena-baccarin/if-you-watch-the-news-you-see-politicians-use-human-vulnerabilities/) [Morena Baccarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morena-baccarin/) > [To use fear as the friend it is, we must retrain and reprogram ourselves...We must persistently and convincingly tell ourselves that the fear is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/to-use-fear-as-the-friend-it-is-we-must-retrain-and-reprogram/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [Step out of the space you're in. Use fear to grow. We can change lives, starting with our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/step-out-of-the-space-you-re-in-use-fear-to-grow-we-can-change-lives/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) ## More by John Mellencamp > [My grandmother made sure that I went to church every Sunday. And she'd come over and pick us boys up, and we would go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/my-grandmother-made-sure-that-i-went-to-church-every-sunday-and-she-d/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [I thought I knew a lot about music. Then you start digging and the deeper you go, the more there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/i-thought-i-knew-a-lot-about-music-then-you-start-digging-and-the/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [You shouldn't even be in a band if you can't play Buddy Holly's Not Fade Away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/you-shouldn-t-even-be-in-a-band-if-you-can-t-play-buddy-holly-s-not/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [Oh, I think country has changed tremendously. I think country has totally changed. Country music when I was a kid was Hank Williams. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/oh-i-think-country-has-changed-tremendously-i-think-country-has/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [I'm looking for trouble. A lot of people get to be a certain age and they just kind of lose interest or they give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/i-m-looking-for-trouble-a-lot-of-people-get-to-be-a-certain-age-and/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [I know there's a balance/I see it when I swing past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/i-know-there-s-a-balance-i-see-it-when-i-swing-past/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [Growing up leads to growing old and then to dying And dying to me don't sound like all that much fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/growing-up-leads-to-growing-old-and-then-to-dying-and-dying-to-me-don/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [This is not a rock opera. This is not Tommy. I can write songs that emote, and that's it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/this-is-not-a-rock-opera-this-is-not-tommy-i-can-write-songs-that/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [Hold on to 16 as long as you can,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/hold-on-to-16-as-long-as-you-can/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [Country sure has changed in the last 10 years. It was one thing, then it was another. Country has slowly marched toward a rock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/country-sure-has-changed-in-the-last-10-years-it-was-one-thing-then/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [I just think if the song's good, sing it. I don't care who's doing it. I don't care if it's a country act. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/i-just-think-if-the-song-s-good-sing-it-i-don-t-care-who-s-doing-it-i/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [I'm not a nostalgic person. I'm not nostalgic about much of anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/i-m-not-a-nostalgic-person-i-m-not-nostalgic-about-much-of-anything/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [Most people in life, give up too early.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/most-people-in-life-give-up-too-early/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [My voice has gotten better from smoking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/my-voice-has-gotten-better-from-smoking/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [Music actually meant something when I started doing it. Too bad I wasn't mature enough to write anything that meant anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/music-actually-meant-something-when-i-started-doing-it-too-bad-i-wasn/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) [Explore all 100 John Mellencamp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) ## More Enemy quotes > [Shall there be truth between us, as two men? Not as friends, but as enemies and equals?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/shall-there-be-truth-between-us-as-two-men-not-as-friends-but-as/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Fear is a man's worst enemy, but love is a man's most powerful weapon against anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-is-a-man-s-worst-enemy-but-love-is-a-man-s-most-powerful-weapon/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [“Never let your Enemies become your Advocates.” by A. K. Hasan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-k-hasan/never-let-your-enemies-become-your-advocates-by-a-k-hasan/) A.K. Hasan > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Perfection is the enemy of greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/perfection-is-the-enemy-of-greatness/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [In this business, you find the enemy, then go after and destroy him. Everything else is rubbish!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/in-this-business-you-find-the-enemy-then-go-after-and-destroy-him/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [“Enemies Teach. Friends Preach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/enemies-teach-friends-preach/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) [Browse all 7,981 Enemy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When politicians use fear, they are playing into the enemy's hand.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Mellencamp" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/when-politicians-use-fear-they-are-playing-into-the-enemy-s-hand/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enemy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/when-politicians-use-fear-they-are-playing-into-the-enemy-s-hand/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/john-mellencamp-5745_enemy_when-politicians-use-fear-they-are-playi_2762570.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/john-mellencamp-5745_enemy_when-politicians-use-fear-they-are-playi_2762570.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/john-mellencamp-5745_enemy_when-politicians-use-fear-they-are-playi_2762570.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When politicians use fear, they are playing into the enemy's hand.” — John Mellencamp", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Mellencamp", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When politicians use fear, they are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/when-politicians-use-fear-they-are-playing-into-the-enemy-s-hand/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/when-politicians-use-fear-they-are-playing-into-the-enemy-s-hand/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```