“Fear is the foundation of most governments.”– John Adams Related Quotes “Therefore, when I considered this carefully, the contempt which I had to fear because of the novelty and apparent absurdity of my view, nearly induced me to abandon utterly the work I had begun.”– Nicolaus Copernicus “Fear is the mother of foresight.”– Thomas Hardy “The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance.”– Thomas Paine