--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was no greater weapon than fear. It…" description: "\"“There was no greater weapon than fear. It kept the masses in check. It kept those under him in check. He'd learned long ago how to use fear to his adv..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7f/l-t-ryan-36839_fear_there-was-no-greater-weapon-than-fear-it_2403094.jpg" --- # There was no greater weapon than fear. It kept the masses… ![“There was no greater weapon than fear. It kept the masses in check. It kept those under him in check. He'd learned long ago how to use fear to his advantage.” quote by L.T. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7f/l-t-ryan-36839_fear_there-was-no-greater-weapon-than-fear-it_2403094.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7f/l-t-ryan-36839_fear_there-was-no-greater-weapon-than-fear-it_2403094.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7f/l-t-ryan-36839_fear_there-was-no-greater-weapon-than-fear-it_2403094.jpg) > ““There was no greater weapon than fear. It kept the masses in check. It kept those under him in check. He'd learned long ago how to use fear to his advantage.”” [L.T. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-t-ryan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear is wielded as a tool to control populations and maintain power. **In simple terms:** Fear can be used to keep people obedient. Key Takeaway Beware of leaders who exploit fear. Themes power psychology control Mood cautionary analytical Type political psychological When to use this quote - political campaigns - workplace management - media narratives Key Concepts authoritarianism social engineering Questions to Reflect On - What are ethical ways to motivate without fear? - How does fear differ from caution? A Different Perspective Fear can also inspire resistance and solidarity against oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Long ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-ago/) ## Related quotes > [How is your life limited by your fear? What are you not doing that you'd really like to do? When we use fear to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/how-is-your-life-limited-by-your-fear-what-are-you-not-doing-that-you/) [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) > [“The owner of the most dangerous weapon should always fear attack.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/the-owner-of-the-most-dangerous-weapon-should-always-fear-attack/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [When the opposition team sense that there is fear, they take advantage without mercy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-simeone/when-the-opposition-team-sense-that-there-is-fear-they-take-advantage/) [Diego Simeone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-simeone/) > [Thus it was that in obedience to the law laid down by his mother, and in obedience to the law of that unknown and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/thus-it-was-that-in-obedience-to-the-law-laid-down-by-his-mother-and/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [“Say goodbye to this energy of fear that kept you safe but small.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/panache-desai/say-goodbye-to-this-energy-of-fear-that-kept-you-safe-but-small/) [Panache Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/panache-desai/) > [“But while fear was part of what kept them together for those first few months in Marin, more powerful than fear was the desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/but-while-fear-was-part-of-what-kept-them-together-for-those-first/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [“Fear kept you sharp, that it kept you steadfastly holding on to your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendare-blake/fear-kept-you-sharp-that-it-kept-you-steadfastly-holding-on-to-your/) [Kendare Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendare-blake/) > [“The idea that Sophie could die had always been there, ever since the first diagnosis, and yet it seemed like a bad place on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/the-idea-that-sophie-could-die-had-always-been-there-ever-since-the/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [Our government has kept us in a perpetual state of fear - kept us in a continuous stampede of patriotic fervor - with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/our-government-has-kept-us-in-a-perpetual-state-of-fear-kept-us-in-a/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [“Boredom is just “What’s the use?” in disguise. And “What’s the use?” is fear, and fear means you are secretly in despair. So put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/boredom-is-just-what-s-the-use-in-disguise-and-what-s-the-use-is-fear/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [“Insecure leaders trumpet their authority and use fear to motivate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-banther/insecure-leaders-trumpet-their-authority-and-use-fear-to-motivate/) [Barry Banther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-banther/) > [“Fear is the engine that drives the human animal. Humanity sees the world as a place of uncountable threats, and so the world becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/fear-is-the-engine-that-drives-the-human-animal-humanity-sees-the/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [I have always loved to use fear, to take it and comprehend it and make it work and consolidate a situation where I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/i-have-always-loved-to-use-fear-to-take-it-and-comprehend-it-and-make/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [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 L.T. Ryan > [“episodes) of Noble Intentions planned, as well as two additional Jack Noble novels: Never Go Home, and When Dead in Greece. Never Go Home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-t-ryan/episodes-of-noble-intentions-planned-as-well-as-two-additional-jack/) [L.T. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-t-ryan/) > [“I heard weapons drawn around the room and the floor creaking behind me, a sign that Bear was moving into position.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-t-ryan/i-heard-weapons-drawn-around-the-room-and-the-floor-creaking-behind/) [L.T. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-t-ryan/) > [“Your name is Bear?” she asked. “Yeah,” Bear said. “That ok with you?” “Like Ted E. Bear.” She smiled, holding up her tattered teddy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-t-ryan/your-name-is-bear-she-asked-yeah-bear-said-that-ok-with-you-like-ted/) [L.T. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-t-ryan/) > [“armed, but they had the cover of night on their side.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-t-ryan/armed-but-they-had-the-cover-of-night-on-their-side/) [L.T. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-t-ryan/) > [“So how emotionally unavailable are you?" "On a scale of one to ten, I'm an eleven. Or a zero, depending on which way your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-t-ryan/so-how-emotionally-unavailable-are-you-on-a-scale-of-one-to-ten-i-m/) [L.T. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-t-ryan/) > [“But a lone voice carries no weight in a room full of hot air. It floats on the currents of bureaucracy and gets absorbed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-t-ryan/but-a-lone-voice-carries-no-weight-in-a-room-full-of-hot-air-it/) [L.T. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-t-ryan/) > [“But as his dad always told him, wish in one hand and crap in the other. See which fills up first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-t-ryan/but-as-his-dad-always-told-him-wish-in-one-hand-and-crap-in-the-other/) [L.T. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-t-ryan/) > [“was why Bear went on high alert. There”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-t-ryan/was-why-bear-went-on-high-alert-there/) [L.T. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-t-ryan/) > [“I nodded. It was pretty simple. Eight years now and we knew the routine. We do our job. Only here, our job had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-t-ryan/i-nodded-it-was-pretty-simple-eight-years-now-and-we-knew-the-routine/) [L.T. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-t-ryan/) > [“Two and a half relaxing months passed in the blink of an eye.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-t-ryan/two-and-a-half-relaxing-months-passed-in-the-blink-of-an-eye/) [L.T. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-t-ryan/) > [“It’s true I haven’t stopped loving you, Jack. But that doesn’t mean we’re meant to be together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-t-ryan/it-s-true-i-haven-t-stopped-loving-you-jack-but-that-doesn-t-mean-we/) [L.T. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-t-ryan/) [Explore all 12 L.T. Ryan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-t-ryan/) ## More Fear quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/) [Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/) > [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [What an incredible drug fear is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/what-an-incredible-drug-fear-is/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [“We all know how the thing we secretly fear is not a secret at all but the open and eternal thing that predicts its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/we-all-know-how-the-thing-we-secretly-fear-is-not-a-secret-at-all-but/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/) [Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [“Snip off the little worries and expressions of worry” like little branches atop a tall tree.28 If you are truly worried, sharing your concerns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/snip-off-the-little-worries-and-expressions-of-worry-like-little/) [Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/) > [“Fear and desire for pleasure. Aggressiveness comes out of fear, predominantly, and sexuality predominantly out of the other. But they mix in the middle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/fear-and-desire-for-pleasure-aggressiveness-comes-out-of-fear/) [Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/) [Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) [Browse all 35,569 Fear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There was no greater weapon than fear. It kept the masses in check. It kept those under him in check. He'd learned long ago how to use fear to his advantage.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "L.T. 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