History is something not many people study or try to learn from—whether from our past mistakes or successes. We often think that what is happening now around the world is unprecedented, that we are on the brink of the end. But it has always been like this, ever since humans began thinking beyond their basic needs: food, shelter, sleep, and reproduction.

We constantly fear that our little space in the world will be disrupted, our comfort taken away, and our way of life destroyed. That’s when the clever man steps in—the one who looks for cracks in our emotions to control and exploit us. Kings are master manipulators, ruling over those who need direction or who, driven by self-interest, seek to achieve common goals—usually benefiting greatly by bending the knee.

Our primal emotion, fear, is the ruler of our thoughts. It corrupts our feelings, generates dark ideas, and can even paralyze us. A person without fear is often labeled a psychopath—someone who walks among us without empathy or remorse. The perfect king is a noble psychopath: charming and manipulative, seducing others into war in the name of something—something we all desire: money, property, or heavenly redemption.

Sitting around a table with their minds in overdrive, these rulers realized that keeping people afraid is the most effective way to govern.

Over time, we all learned from our kings. Those without remorse—greedy, vain, envious, and ruthless—have developed efficient and effective ways to manipulate others for their own gain, with fear as their secret weapon.

Our last global crisis, in 2019, proved that when we are all afraid at once, we become easy to manipulate. We willingly gave up our liberties without a second thought. We became a scared herd, led not by leaders, but by fear itself.

It is a fact that before this crisis, the world was in a state of protest against the status quo. In Asia, people were demanding more freedom; in America, civil rights movements surged; in Europe, citizens were calling for transparency and an end to state corruption. The younger generation was fearless, and for a moment, it seemed like something in the global power structure might crack.

Then came the perfect excuse to stop the avalanche of change—a disease, something invisible that could kill us all. We were told to socially distance, stay indoors, avoid questioning authority, and accept a new system of control. For three years, the world was gripped by constant stress: daily death counts, cries of “fake news,” and growing political division.

As time passed, we realized it was indeed a lethal disease—but also a conveniently timed one. It cooled the streets and allowed the ruling powers to reset the machinery that had, for a moment, stopped shielding them from the people.

It was a highly convenient problem—something that killed millions and terrified millions more.

Social media played a crucial role in helping the kings control the narrative. It became a filter of what could be said publicly. A tight algorithm would ban you if you challenged the measures they claimed were keeping us “safe.”

This might sound like a hate song against ruling parties, but it’s undeniable: they have used fear to control us—our markets, our education systems, our social media, our wars—and most dangerously, to become the sole owners of truth.

Control is necessary in society—but not when it’s used against us. Do you remember the parties held in London during the lockdowns? The rulers of England were drinking and hugging while, on TV, they were telling everyone else to keep their distance.

In the end, we must understand that fear controls everything we do. Turn off the alarms. Read between the lines. Keep an open mind. And remember: we are all mortal—but the world will keep turning around the Sun until we find another place to call home.

Don’t fear—think.

Don’t fear—learn.

Don’t fear—remember.

Don’t fear—open your eyes.