Reminds me of a scene from Watership Down.
''They knew well enough what was happening. But even to themselves they pretended that all was well, for the food was good, they were protected, they had nothing to fear but the one fear; and that struck here and there, never enough at a time to drive them away. ....
And since they could not bear the truth, these singers, who might in some other place have been wise, were squeezed under the terrible weight of the warren's secret until they gulped out fine folly - about dignity and acquiescence, and anything else that could make believe that the rabbit loved the shining wire. But one strict rule they had; oh yes, the strictest. No one must ever ask where another rabbit was and anyone who asked, ''where?'' - except in a song or a poem - must be silenced. To say ''Where?'' wwas bad enough, but to speak openly of the wires - that was intolerable. For that they would scratch and kill''.