Is "lest" always followed by "should"?

I remember my grandfather giving examples of "lest" like

...lest you should fail.

Is "lest" always followed by "should" because I see "lest" all the times without being followed by "should" in some articles and novels, but I am not sure if they are grammatically correct.

Please provide examples of such exceptions.

Solution 1:

Lest is generally followed by a verb clause in the subjunctive mood. The word should is just a way to put a clause into the future subjunctive. Some examples found online:

• I won’t waste your time responding point-by-point lest I give credence to unsubstantiated allegations and tortured innuendo.

• Now, lest I appear ungrateful for the relative privilege I personally enjoy in the world, let me be quick to acknowledge that fact here.

• Don’t push people too hard, lest you damage close friendships unnecessarily.

These examples are not in the subjunctive, and sound wrong to me:

• I suppose it is unwise of me to make this confession now, lest our insurance company reads this article. (I would say lest our insurance company should read this article)

• Lest people did not get the point, he went on to say they ”are the vilest form of human life” and should ”rot in hell”. (I would say Lest people fail to get the point or Lest people miss the point.)