Summary
This quote suggests that fear plays a significant role in the formation and sustenance of governments. It implies that governments often rely on instilling fear among their citizens as a means of ensuring compliance, obedience, and control. By utilizing fear, governments create a sense of vulnerability in the population, leading individuals to rely on the authority and protection offered by the governing body. Fear can be used to justify a government's actions, promote law and order, and perpetuate its own existence. Ultimately, the quote implies that the foundation upon which many governments are built is rooted in fear.
Topics
Government
By John Adams