"The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance"

This quote by Thomas Paine talks to the power of overbearing routines and how they maintain control. He recommends that the strength of a despotic federal government depends on its capability to instill fear in its people. This worry of resistance avoids people from withstanding the government and challenging its authority. This fear is utilized to keep people in line and to avoid them from speaking out against the federal government. It is a type of psychological control that keeps individuals from challenging the status quo. By instilling worry, despotic governments can maintain their power and control over their residents. This quote works as a pointer of the power of overbearing regimes and how they use worry to preserve control.