The phrase "Fear is the tool of a tyrant" is notably attributed to Brandon Sanderson in his book "Mistborn: The Final Empire". Additionally, variations of this sentiment have been used in political and legal contexts recently; for example, Maurene Comey, a federal prosecutor, wrote that "fear is the tool of a tyrant" in a note expressing concern about abuses of power, which has been quoted in news articles related to the Justice Department and politics in 2025.
Thus, while this phrase may have broader interpretive roots in discussions of tyranny and power, its distinct phrasing appears prominently in modern popular culture through Sanderson's work, and it is actively referenced in contemporary discourse about fear and tyranny. If the question is about the original or most famous source of the exact phrase, Brandon Sanderson is the credited author.
