Quotes About Authority

To use raw power is to make yourself infinitely vulnerable to greater powers.

Religious institutions perpetuate a mortal master-servant relationship," Leto said. "They create an arena which attracts prideful human power-seekers with all of their nearsighted prejudices!

One must always keep the tools of statecraft sharp and ready. Power and fear – sharp and ready.

Most discipline is hidden discipline, designed not to liberate but to limit. Do not ask Why? Be cautious with How? Why? leads inexorably to paradox. How? traps you in a universe of cause and effect. Both deny the infinite.

All governments needed to remain under suspicion during their time of power including that of the Sisterhood itself. Trust no government! Not even mine!

Do as she says, you wormfaced, crawling, sand-brained piece of lizard turd!

Prisons are needed only to provide the illusion that courts and police are effective.

All rebels are closet aristocrats. That's why I can convert them so easily.

In the wrong hands," Leto said, "monolithic centralized power is a dangerous and volatile instrument." - "And your hands are the right ones?

The difference between a good administrator and a bad one is about five heartbeats. Good administrators make immediate choices.

A world is supported by four things... the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the righteous and the valor of the brave. But all of these are as nothing...without a ruler who knows the art of ruling.

Those who would repeat the past must control the teaching of history. —Bene Gesserit Coda

You must learn to rule. It's something none of your ancestors learned.

I must rule with eye and claw — as the hawk among lesser birds. - Duke Leto Atreides

In politics, the tripod is the most unstable of all structures.

Once more the drama begins.' — The Emperor Paul Muad'dib on his ascension to the Lion Throne.

Power bases are very dangerous because they attract people who are truly insane, people who seek power only for the sake of power.

Power and fear, he said. The tools of statecraft.

Fragmentation is the natural destiny of all power.

Every religious, business and governmental question has the single derivative: 'Who will exercise the power?' Alliances, combines, complexes, they all chase mirages unless they go for the power. All else is nonsense, as most thinking beings come to realize.

Government and religion united, and breaking a law became sin. A smell of blasphemy arose like smoke around any questioning of governmental edicts.

They're trained to believe, not to know. Belief can be manipulated. Only knowledge is dangerous.

All rebels are closet aristocrats.

Nothing wins more loyalty for a leader than an air of bravura, the Duke said. I, therefore, cultivate an air of bravura.