Quotes from Brian Herbert

The individual is shocked by the overwhelming discovery of his own mortality. The species, however, is different. It need not die. —PARDOT KYNES, An Arrakis Primer

A man cannot drink from a mirage, but he can drown in it.

Life is filled with tests, one after another, and if you don't recognize them, you are certain to fail the most important ones. —admonition to acolytes, the Rossak School

The axis of spin for the planet Arrakis is at right angles to the radius of its orbit. The world itself is not a globe, but more a spinning top somewhat fat at the equator and concave toward the poles. There is a sense that this may be artificial, the product of some ancient artifice. Report of the Third Imperial Commission on Arrakis

Political leaders often don't recognize the practical uses of imagination and innovative new ideas until such forms are thrust under their noses by bloody hands. —CROWN PRINCE RAPHAEL CORRINO, Discourses on Galactic Leadership

Fanaticism is always a sign of repressed doubt.

When you listen to the voices of power, do not heed only the loudest. Those that whisper may yield greater knowledge. —Bene Gesserit training manual, Studies in Influence

The hawk and the mouse are the same," Warrick said, peering into the future.

Beliefs are more powerful than facts." Leto stared through the thick sky at the magnificent, distant ship and frowned. It was often difficult to separate truth from fiction.…

Innovation and daring create heroes. Mindless adherence to outdated rules creates only politicians.

Those who nourish themselves with hatred seldom realize they are starving. —Zensunni warning

Intuition is a function by which humans see around corners. It is useful for persons who live exposed to dangerous natural conditions. —ERASMUS Erasmus Dialogues

Power and deceit are tools of statecraft, yes. But remember that power deludes the ones who wield it—making them believe it can overcome the defects of their ignorance. —COUNT FLAMBERT MUTELLI, early speech in Landsraad Hall of Oratory

It is not easy for some men to know they have done evil, for reasoning and honor are often clouded by pride.

Adaptability is the essence of survival. —from the Azhar Book

Do you really expect to become more than a machine?" Taking no offense, Erasmus replied, "It is a human trait to better oneself, is it not? That is all I am trying to do.

Talk is based on the assumption that you can get somewhere if you keep putting one word after another. —IBLIS GINJO, notes in the margin of a stolen notebook

Fire has no form of its own, but clings to the burning object. Light clings to darkness. —Cogitor philosophy

Just because the situation has gone on for a thousand years, is that an excuse for us to become accustomed to it? The thinking machines have already escalated the war with their attack on Zimia and Rossak, their invasion of Giedi Prime. This Earth disaster is just another challenge.

A center for the coordination of rebellion can be mobile; it does not need to be a permanent place where people meet.

The Universe operates on a basic principle of economics: everything has its cost. We pay to create our future, we pay for the mistakes of the past. We pay for every change we make Ã¢â'¬Â¦ and we pay just as dearly if we refuse to change. Guild Bank Annals, Philosophical Register

All life is a series of seemingly insignificant tasks and decisions, culminating in the definition of an individual and her purpose in life.

The Ixians are masters of industrial sabotage and patent appropriation. Nowadays Richesians are only good for making cheap copies without any innovations.

Polish comes from the cities, went an old Fremen saying, wisdom from the desert.