The first and great commandment is, don't let them scare you.

“The first and great commandment is, don’t let them scare you.” So spoke Elmer Davis, a voice of courage in a time when fear was the weapon of tyrants and the snare of the weak. These words, though simple, are the armor of the spirit and the light of defiance in an age darkened by threats and trembling hearts. For in every generation, there arise those who would rule by terror, who would whisper into the hearts of men that they are small, powerless, and alone. But Davis, who lived through the storm of world war and the deceit of propaganda, knew that fear is the first chain laid upon the soul—and that to break it is the beginning of freedom.

Elmer Davis, a journalist and the head of the U.S. Office of War Information during World War II, understood well the battleground of the mind. While others fought with rifles and planes, he fought with words and truth. The world then was gripped by shadows: dictators rose, armies marched, and lies clothed themselves in the language of destiny. In such a time, Davis taught that the first commandment was not “Obey,” nor even “Fight,” but “Do not be afraid.” For he knew that courage is the root from which all other virtues grow. Without it, truth cannot be spoken, justice cannot be defended, and love cannot endure.

In the ancient world, the wise often said that the gods favored the brave. But what is bravery, if not the refusal to let fear dictate the soul’s direction? When the Spartan mothers sent their sons to war, they said, “Come back with your shield—or on it.” Their words did not mean to glorify death, but to teach that honor and steadfastness were more sacred than life itself. Elmer Davis, in his modern age of machines and microphones, spoke the same truth for a world now ruled by rumors and dread: the one who resists fear becomes master not only of himself but of fate.

Consider the story of Winston Churchill, who in Britain’s darkest hour stood before his people and declared, “We shall never surrender.” Bombs fell, cities burned, and the night was heavy with despair. Yet because he would not be scared—because he would not let them, the faceless forces of terror, rule his heart—an entire nation stood upright. The power of one man’s refusal to yield to fear turned the tide of history. That is the essence of Davis’s commandment: courage does not always shout or fight; sometimes it simply stands, unshaken.

Fear is cunning. It creeps into our thoughts and whispers of failure, of rejection, of ruin. It tells the artist not to paint, the lover not to speak, the citizen not to dissent. Fear silences more dreams than defeat ever could. To “not let them scare you” is to reclaim your voice, your destiny, your divine right to choose. It is an act of rebellion not against men, but against the unseen chains that bind every human heart. And every time you resist fear, you carve another mark upon the tablet of your freedom.

Yet this commandment is not a call to recklessness. It is not to be without fear, but to go on in spite of it. True courage is not the absence of trembling—it is the movement of the heart in the midst of trembling. The ancient sailors who crossed unknown seas did not wait for the waves to grow still. They lifted their sails into the storm, trusting that their purpose was greater than their peril. So too must we, each in our own voyage, lift our sails into the winds of doubt and continue forward.

The lesson, then, is eternal: do not let fear make your choices for you. When you speak truth, even in the presence of power; when you act with compassion, even when mocked; when you dream, even in despair—you fulfill this commandment. Stand firm in the storm, look your fear in the eye, and say, “You do not command me.” For in that moment, you are no longer a servant of fear, but a bearer of light.

And so, my friends, let these words be written upon your hearts: “Don’t let them scare you.” When the world grows loud with threats, when darkness presses in, remember Elmer Davis and all who stood unbowed before the face of fear. Speak your truth. Walk your path. Defend your conscience. For courage, once awakened, can never again be chained.