“People always fear what they don't understand, Evangeline. History proves that.”

“The conclusions seem inescapable that in certain circles a tendency has arisen to fear people who fear government. Government, as the Father of Our Country put it so well, is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. People who understand history, especially the history of government, do well to fear it. For a people to express openly their fear of those of us who are afraid of tyranny is alarming. Fear of the state is in no sense subversive. It is, to the contrary, the healthiest political philosophy for a free people.”

Jeff Cooper (1920–2006) American journalist

“You always admire what you really don't understand.”

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American politician, diplomat, and activist, and First Lady of the United States

“You always admire what you really don't understand.”

Blaise Pascal (1623–1662) French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, and Christian philosopher

“Small minds have always lashed out at what they don't understand.”

Dan Brown (1964) American author

“Doing what is right in the face of adversity is not always easy or popular. Critics may assail you, but the critics don't always realize what they don't know or don't understand, because they don't have access to all the information.”

John Ashcroft (1942) American politician

“I don't always understand poetry!'

'You don't always understand it? Timms, I never understand it. But learn it now, know it now and you will understand it… whenever.”

Alan Bennett The History Boys

“See, I remember love. That's what people don't understand.”

Melina Marchetta book On the Jellicoe Road

“We’re always a victim of our fears, if we can convey them and have people understand them, maybe we can help them protect themselves from their fears.”

Christian Duguay (director) (1957) Canadian film director

“The most interesting question of history is always, What were these people thinking?”

Lois McMaster Bujold Vorkosigan Saga