--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The slavery of fear had made men afraid…" description: "\"The slavery of fear had made men afraid to think.\" — Thomas Paine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a81/thomas-paine-267_fear_the-slavery-of-fear-had-made-men-afraid_526284.png" --- # The slavery of fear had made men afraid to think. ![“The slavery of fear had made men afraid to think.” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a81/thomas-paine-267_fear_the-slavery-of-fear-had-made-men-afraid_526284.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a81/thomas-paine-267_fear_the-slavery-of-fear-had-made-men-afraid_526284.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a81/thomas-paine-267_fear_the-slavery-of-fear-had-made-men-afraid_526284.png) > “The slavery of fear had made men afraid to think.” [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear restricts critical thought, causing people to avoid challenging ideas. **In simple terms:** Fear stops thinking. Key Takeaway Confront fear to think freely. Themes courage critical thinking freedom Mood anxious reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - public speaking - debates - personal reflection Key Concepts psychology political philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does fear influence your decisions? - What steps can you take to think despite fear? A Different Perspective Fear can also motivate caution, which may be protective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Freedom had been hunted round the globe; reason was considered as rebellion; and the slavery of fear had made men afraid to think. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/freedom-had-been-hunted-round-the-globe-reason-was-considered-as/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Humiliation, slavery, fear have perverted us to the bone; we no longer look like men... . Men must be granted the respect due to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-dib/humiliation-slavery-fear-have-perverted-us-to-the-bone-we-no-longer/) Mohammed Dib > [I think we live in slavery to fear. 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Miller Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr/) > [Fear of men's judgment manifests itself in competition for men's approval.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/fear-of-men-s-judgment-manifests-itself-in-competition-for-men-s/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Fear what all men face, only good can win the race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kansas/fear-what-all-men-face-only-good-can-win-the-race/) [Kansas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kansas/) > [Fear not of men because men must die. 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