Frank Herbert
Frank Herbert
Frank Patrick Herbert, Jr.was an American science fiction writer best known for the novel Dune and its five sequels. Though he became famous for science fiction, he was also a newspaper journalist, photographer, short story writer, book reviewer, ecological consultant and lecturer...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth8 October 1920
CityTacoma, WA
CountryUnited States of America
government weapons
Religion, too, is a weapon. What manner of weapon is religion when it becomes the government?
culture enough unstable
In politics, the tripod is he most unstable of all structures. It's be bad enough without the complication of a feudal trade culture which turns its back on most science.
resistance helping belief
Dangers lurk in all systems. Systems incorporate the unexamined beliefs of their creators. Adopt a system, accept its beliefs, and you help strengthen the resistance to change
chance madness surprise
Chance is the nature of our universe. [...] madness represents a chaotic reservoir of surprises. Some surprises can be valuable.
reading writing differences
But, later, coming back and reading what I have produced, I am unable to detect the difference between what came easily and when I had to sit down and say, "Well, now it's writing time and now I'll write.
self demand care
Since every individual is accountable ultimately to the self, the formation of that self demands our utmost care and attention.
book writing years
When I was writing Dune there was no room in my mind for concerns about the book's success or failure. I was concerned only with the writing. Six years of research had preceded the day I sat down to put the story together, and the interweaving of the many plot layers I had planned required a degree of concentration I had never before experienced.
accepting
What you cannot control, you must accept.
wise men tasks
To endure oneself may be the hardest task in the universe. You cannot hire a wise man or any other intellect to solve it for you. There's no writ of inquest or calling of witness to provide answers.
lying people reason
We accept too damned many things on the explanations of people who could have good reasons for lying.
peace war impossible
Peace for any prolonged period of time is impossible. Humans have a natural thirst for chaos and war is the most readily available form of chaos.
book giving entertainment
There's an unwritten compact between you and the reader. If someone enters a bookstore and sets down hard earned money (energy) for your book, you owe that person some entertainment and as much more as you can give.
gathering chaos collecting
Can you collect chaos? Not collecting, that is the ultimate gathering. What can you gather without gathering yourself.
art hands killing
Killing with the point lacks artistry, but don't let that hold your hand when the opening presents itself.