Mysticism and exaggeration go together. A mystic must not fear ridicule if he is to push all the way to the limits of humility or the limits of delight.

I fear God and next to God I mostly fear them that fear him not.

Some people need to stay at the top. They are afraid to re-start from zero because they fear the critics.

There is no greater hell than to be a prisoner of fear.

As long as enough people can be frightened, then all people can be ruled. That is how it works in a democratic system and mass fear becomes the ticket to destroy rights across the board.