Frank Herbert Quotes

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• The best contribution one can make to humanity is to improve oneself.

  Frank Herbert

  Humanity, Contribution, Oneself

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• The mistakes (of leaders) are amplified by the numbers who follow them without question. Charismatic leaders tend to build up followings, power structures and these power structures tend to be taken over by people who are corruptible. I don't think that the old saw about 'power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely' is accurate: I think power attracts the corruptible.

  Frank Herbert

  Mistake, Taken, Thinking

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• When a wise man does not understand, he says: "I do not understand." The fool and the uncultured are ashamed of their ignorance. They remain silent when a question could bring them wisdom.

  Frank Herbert

  Wise, Ignorance, Men

  "The Godmakers". Book by Frank Herbert, 1972.

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• It is so shocking to find out how many people do not believe that they can learn, and how many more believe learning to be difficult.

  Frank Herbert

  Believe, People, Difficult

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• I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

  Frank Herbert

  Inspirational, Motivational, Death

  Frank Herbert (2010). “Heretics Of Dune: The Fifth Dune Novel”, p.10, Hachette UK

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• Without change, something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken.

  Frank Herbert

  Inspirational, Funny, Life

  "Fictional character: Duke Leto Atreides". "Dune", www.imdb.com. 1984.

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• Most lives are a flight from selfhood. Most prefer the truths of the stable. You stick your head into the stanchions and munch contentedly until you die. Others use you for their purposes. Not once do you look outside the stable to lift your head and be your own creature.

  Frank Herbert

  Self, Use, Sticks

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• Nature does not make mistakes. Right and wrong are human categories.

  Frank Herbert

  Inspirational, Life, Nature

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• Power attracts the corruptible. Suspect any who seek it.

  Frank Herbert

  Power, Corruption, Power And Corruption

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• There should be a science of discontent. People need hard times and oppression to develop psychic muscles.

  Frank Herbert

  Hard Times, Psychics, People

  "Dune".

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• All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts pathological personalities.

  Frank Herbert

  War, Government, Personality

  Frank Herbert (1987). “Chapterhouse: Dune”, p.60, Penguin

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• Small souls who seek power over others first destroy the faith those others might have in themselves.

  Frank Herbert

  Soul, Might, Firsts

  Frank Herbert (2010). “God Emperor Of Dune: The Fourth Dune Novel”, p.218, Hachette UK

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• The mystery of life isn't a problem to solve, but a reality to experience.

  Frank Herbert

  Love, Inspirational, Life

  Frank Herbert (2003). “Dune”, p.35, Penguin

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• Bureaucracy destroys initiative. There is little that bureaucrats hate more than innovation, especially innovation that produces better results than the old routines. Improvements always make those at the top of the heap look inept. Who enjoys appearing inept?

  Frank Herbert

  Hate, Thought Provoking, Innovation

  Frank Herbert (1987). “Heretics of Dune”, p.201, Penguin

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• Face your fears or they will climb over your back.

  Frank Herbert

  Faces, Face Your Fears, Climbs

  Frank Herbert (1987). “Chapterhouse: Dune”, p.151, Penguin

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• It is a wise man that does know the contented man is never poor, whilst the discontented man is never rich.

  Frank Herbert

  Wise, Men, Doe

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• The undeserving maintain power by promoting hysteria.

  Frank Herbert

  Hysteria, Undeserving, Promoting

  Frank Herbert (2008). “God Emperor of Dune”, p.306, Penguin

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• The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand.

  Frank Herbert

  Knowledge, Caring, Discovery

  Frank Herbert (2008). “God Emperor of Dune”, p.150, Penguin

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• Governments, if they endure, always tend increasingly toward aristocratic forms. No government in history has been known to evade this pattern. And as the aristocracy develops, government tends more and more to act exclusively in the interests of the ruling class -- whether that class be hereditary royalty, oligarchs of financial empires, or entrenched bureaucracy.

  Frank Herbert

  Government, Class, Aristocracy

  Frank Herbert (2008). “Children of Dune”, p.198, Penguin

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• Do actions agree with words? There's your measure of reliability. Never confine yourself to the words.

  Frank Herbert

  Reliability, Action, Agree

  Frank Herbert (1987). “Chapterhouse: Dune”, p.110, Penguin

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• Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty.

  Frank Herbert

  Freedom, Discipline, History

  Frank Herbert (1985). “Chapterhouse: Dune”, Putnam Publishing Group

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• There is no real ending. It’s just the place where you stop the story.

  Frank Herbert

  Real, Writing, Stories

  Interview with Willis McNelly, www.sinanvural.com. February 3, 1969.

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• Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense. But the real universe is always one step beyond logic.

  Frank Herbert

  Life, Real, Princess

  Frank Herbert (2003). “Dune”, p.323, Penguin

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• When politics and religion are intermingled, a people is suffused with a sense of invulnerability, and gathering speed in their forward charge, they fail to see the cliff ahead of them

  Frank Herbert

  People, Gathering, Cliffs

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• There is only one true wealth in all the universe. I have given you some of it. I have given your father and your mate some of it. And your friends. This wealth is living time.

  Frank Herbert

  Wealth, True Wealth, Universe

  "The Green Brain".

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