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
precision repeats monotonous
Why is it that foolishness repeats itself with such monotonous precision?
survival important ability-to-change
The most important survival ability for any life form is the ability to change.
fall reality power
Power tends to isolate those who hold too much of it. Eventually, they lose touch with reality ... and fall.
art perfection form
Producing perfection from imperfection is, after all, the highest of art forms.
thinking perfect you-think-you-know
When you think you know something: that is a most perfect barrier against learning.
religious practice attention
Demagogues are so easy to identify. They gesture a lot and speak with pulpit rhythms, using words that ring of religious fervour and god-fearing sincerity. Sincerity with nothing behind it takes so much practice. The practice can always be detected. Repetition. Great attempts to keep your attention on words.
fear trying looks
Try looking into that place where you dare not look! You'll find me there, staring out at you!
mistake fighting men
When your opponent fears you, then's the moment when you give the fear its own rein, give it the time to work on him. Let it become terror. The terrified man fights himself. Eventually, he attacks in desperation. That is the most dangerous moment, but the terrified man can be trusted usually to make a fatal mistake. You are being trained here to detect these mistakes and use them.
mountain tests littles
Any road followed precisely to its end leads precisely nowhere. Climb the mountain just a little bit to test it's a mountain. From the top of the mountain, you cannot see the mountain.
evil tests ultimate
The ultimate test ... to see the good in evil and the evil in good.
peers prophet curtains
The best prophets lead you up to the curtain and let you peer through for yourself.
stupidity remember conformity
Remember: Bureaucracy elevates conformity ... Make that elevates 'fatal stupidity' to the status of religion.
law personal-qualities government
Good governance never depends upon laws, but upon the personal qualities of those who govern. The machinery of government is always subordinate to the will of those who administer that machinery. The most important element of government, therefore, is the method of choosing leaders.
mind belief infinite
Beware! The mind of the believer stagnates. It fails to grow outward into an unlimited, infinite universe.