they repeat instead of believe.

obey —
because obedience is easier than thought.

they are compliant.
trained.

imitate instead of think.

they enforce a power
they do not possess.

authority borrowed.
morality second-hand.

learn the tricks.
perform them well.

rewarded when correct.
punished when they deviate.

call obedience virtue.
call fear order.
call survival truth.

they are not oppressed.
they are functional.

and when thinking becomes dangerous,
when silence is safer than honesty —

only the monkeys
will be left to fly.