There exists a limit to the force even the most powerful may apply without destroying themselves. Judging this limit is the true artistry of government. Misuse of power is the fatal sin. Frank Herbert More Quotes by Frank Herbert More Quotes From Frank Herbert Kindness is the beginning of cruelty. Frank Herbert cruelty cynicism kindness Remember: Bureaucracy elevates conformity ... Make that elevates 'fatal stupidity' to the status of religion. Frank Herbert conformity stupidity remember Answers are a perilous grip on the universe. They can appear sensible yet explain nothing. Frank Herbert universe sensible answers Riots and comedy are but symptoms of the times, profoundly revealing. They betray the psychological tone, the deep uncertainties....and the striving for something better, plus the fear that nothing would come of it all. Frank Herbert tone comedy psychological If you think of yourselves as helpless and ineffectual, it is certain that you will create a despotic government to be your master. The wise despot, therefore, maintains among his subjects a popular sense that they are helpless and ineffectual. Frank Herbert government wise thinking The ultimate test ... to see the good in evil and the evil in good. Frank Herbert ultimate tests evil The person who experiences greatness must have a feeling for the myth he is in. He must reflect what is projected upon him. And he must have a strong sense of the sardonic. This is what uncouples him from belief in his own pretensions. The sardonic is all that permits him to move within himself. Without this quality, even occasional greatness will destroy a man. Frank Herbert greatness strong moving Bless the Maker and His water. Bless the coming and going of Him. May His passage cleanse the world. May He keep the world for His people. Frank Herbert water people world Many have marked the speed with which Muad'Dib learned the necessities of Arrakis. The Bene Gesserit, of course, know the basis of this speed. For the others, we can say that Muad'Dib learned rapidly because his first training was in how to learn. And the first lesson of all was the basic trust that he could learn. It is shocking to find how many people do not believe they can learn, and how many more believe learning to be difficult. Muad'Dib knew that every experience carries its lesson. Frank Herbert training believe people The best prophets lead you up to the curtain and let you peer through for yourself. Frank Herbert curtains prophet peers Beyond a critical point within a finite space, freedom diminishes as numbers increase. This is as true of humans as it is of gas molecules in a sealed flask. The human question is not how many can possibly survive within the system, but what kind of existence is possible for those who so survive. Frank Herbert molecules space numbers We can say that Maud'Dib learned rapidly because his first training was in how to learn. And the first lesson of all was the basic trust that he could learn. Frank Herbert training lessons inspirational There is probably no more terrible instant of enlightenment than the one in which you discover your father is a man - with human flesh. Frank Herbert flesh men father Too much knowledge never makes for simple decisions. Frank Herbert too-much decision simple Anything outside yourself, this you can see and apply your logic to it. But it's a human trait that when we encounter personal problems, these things most deeply personal are the most difficult to bring out for our logic to scan. We tend to flounder around, blaming everything but the actual, deep-seated thing that's really chewing on us. Frank Herbert blame logic encounters What I'm saying in my books boils down to this: Mine religion for what is good and avoid what is deleterious. Don't condemn people who need it. Be very careful when that need becomes fanatical. Frank Herbert book people needs I have come to believe that holy boredom is good and sufficient reason for the invention of free will. Frank Herbert boredom free-will believe Irreverence is a most necessary ingredient of religion. Not to speak of its importance in philosophy. Irreverence is the only way left to us for testing our universe. Frank Herbert irreverence philosophy way Technology is both a tool for helping humans and for destroying them. This is the paradox of our times which we're compelled to face. Frank Herbert technology tools faces Blood is thicker than water, but politics are thicker than blood. Frank Herbert politics water blood
