We fear things in proportion to our ignorance of them.

Bovee’s aphorism links fear to the unknown: the less we understand a person, event, or phenomenon, the more room there is for imagination to supply worst-case scenarios. The line implies that knowledge—through study, experience, or familiarity—tends to shrink fear by replacing vague dread with concrete facts and workable responses. It also suggests a moral and social dimension: prejudice and suspicion often flourish where there is little direct contact or reliable information. The quote thus functions as both psychological observation and practical counsel: to reduce fear, reduce ignorance.