Quote

Beware of the truth, gentle Sister. Although much sought after, truth can be dangerous to the seeker. Myths and reassuring lies are much easier to find and believe. If you find a truth, even a temporary one, it can demand that you make painful changes. Conceal your truths within words. Natural ambiguity will protect you then.

Frank Herbert

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Frank Herbert
Age: 65 †
Born: 1920
Born: October 8
Died: 1986
Died: February 11
Author
Journalist
Novelist
Photographer
Science Fiction Writer
Writer
Tacoma
Washington
Frank Patrick Herbert
Franklin Patrick Herbert
Franklin Herbert
Franklin Patrick Herbert
Jr.
Find
Protect
Sister
Conceal
Even
Easier
Gentle
Seekers
Much
Dangerous
Myth
Myths
Believe
Within
Painful
Ambiguity
Make
Lying
Although
Beware
Words
Changes
Sought
Natural
Demand
Temporary
Seeker
Truth
Lies
Truths
Reassuring

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The convoluted wording of legalisms grew up around the necessity to hide from ourselves the violence we intend toward each other. Between depriving a man of one hour from his life and depriving him of his life there exists only a difference of degree. You have done violence to him, consumed his energy.
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The highest function of ecology is the understanding of consequences.
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This wise man observed that wealth is a tool of freedom. But the pursuit of wealth is the way to slavery.
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No matter how exotic human civilization becomes, no matter the developments of life and society nor the complexity of the machine/human interface, there always come interludes of lonely power when the course of humankind, the very future of humankind, depends upon the relatively simple actions of single individual.
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If you focus your awareness only upon your own rightness, then you invite the forces of opposition to overwhelm you.
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Democracy is susceptible to being led astray by having scapegoats paraded in front of the electorate.
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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?
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I cry for those not yet dead.
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The basic lesson of our relativistic universe is that things change. Any power must always meet a greater power.
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A ruler must learn to persuade and not to compel.
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The hearts of all men dwell in the same wilderness.
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A requirement of creativity is that it contributes to change. Creativity keeps the creator alive.
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Ready comprehension is often a knee-jerk response and the most dangerous form of understanding. It blinks an opaque screen over your ability to learn. The judgmental precedents of law function that way, littering your path with dead ends. Be warned. Understand nothing. All comprehension is temporary.
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If you believe certain words, you believe their hidden arguments. When you believe something is right or wrong, true or false, you believe the assumptions in the words which express the arguments. Such assumptions are often full of holes, but remain most precious to the convinced.
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I don't worry about inspiration, or anything like that. It's a matter of just sitting down and working.
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What you cannot control, you must accept.
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Polish comes from the cities wisdom from the desert.
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When you imagine mistakes, there can be no self-defense.
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