There’s something unsettling about a scarecrow. It stands tall in a field, commanding respect, inspiring fear. But at its core, it is nothing—just straw and old clothes held together by the illusion of presence.
Kahlil Gibran’s short piece The Scarecrow from The Madman captures this paradox perfectly. The scarecrow declares, “The joy of scaring is a deep and lasting one, and I never tire of it.” But when the narrator agrees, the scarecrow delivers the punchline:
“Only those who are stuffed with straw can know it.”
And just like that, fear, power, and emptiness collapse into one.
The Hollow Enjoy Fear
The scarecrow enjoys his work—scaring away birds that never touch him, never challenge him. He thrives on the illusion of power. And yet, his statement cuts deeper: Only those who are hollow inside can truly take joy in making others afraid.
Think about the figures who have ruled through fear. The bullies, the tyrants, the manipulative bosses. They bask in the power of intimidation, but what happens when you look closer?
Inside, they are empty.
Real strength does not come from making others fear you. It comes from within. And the ones who rely on fear? They are, like the scarecrow, stuffed with straw—mere figures of presence, nothing more.
Fear is Temporary
A year passes. The scarecrow still stands in the field. But now, two crows are building a nest under his hat.
The same birds he once frightened now see him as harmless. The illusion has faded.
And isn’t that always the case? Fear does not last. The people who once cowered learn to see through the act. The leaders who ruled through terror find themselves ignored. The bosses who controlled through intimidation wake up one day to an office that no longer listens.
Fear works—until it doesn’t.
The Final Question
When the scarecrow loses his power, he does not move. He does not fight. He simply stands. A philosopher, no longer a tyrant.
Which raises the real question:
When fear fades—who are you without it?
For those who rule by presence alone, the answer is simple: nothing.