--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They terrify lest they should fear." description: "\"They terrify lest they should fear.\" — Tacitus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/tacitus-1552_fear_they-terrify-lest-they-should-fear-25825_2582509.jpg" --- # They terrify lest they should fear. ![“They terrify lest they should fear.” quote by Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/tacitus-1552_fear_they-terrify-lest-they-should-fear-25825_2582509.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/tacitus-1552_fear_they-terrify-lest-they-should-fear-25825_2582509.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/tacitus-1552_fear_they-terrify-lest-they-should-fear-25825_2582509.jpg) > “They terrify lest they should fear.” [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A paradoxical statement about fear, suggesting that terror is used to prevent fear itself, reflecting on control mechanisms. **In simple terms:** Fear used to stop fear. Key Takeaway Question the purpose of terror. Themes psychology control paradox Mood cautious thoughtful Type philosophical statement When to use this quote - leadership tactics - propaganda - public policy Key Concepts political theory social manipulation Questions to Reflect On - How does fear regulate behavior? - What are ethical limits of using fear? A Different Perspective Might justify oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Lest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lest/) [Lest Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lest-fear-1790954/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Terrify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrify/) [Terrify Lest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrify-lest-1790953/) ## Related quotes > [They judge lest they be judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/they-judge-lest-they-be-judged/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [“We are who we are. 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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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. 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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. 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