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History is a constant race between invention and catastrophe.

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.
Catastrophe
Invention
Constant
Race
History

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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.
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The proximity of a desirable thing tempts one to overindulgence. On that path lies danger.
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The convoluted wording of legalisms grew up around the necessity to hide from ourselves the violence we do to each other.
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The mind can go either direction under stress—toward positive or toward negative: on or off. Think of it as a spectrum whose extremes are unconsciousness at the negative end and hyperconsciousness at the positive end. The way the mind will lean under stress is strongly influenced by training.
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We tend to become like the worst in those we oppose.
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Give me the judgment of balanced minds in preference to laws every time. Codes and manuals create patterned behavior. All patterned behavior tends to go unquestioned, gathering destructive momentum.
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Atrocity never balances or rectifies the past. Atrocity merely arms the future for more atrocity.
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If there is a difference between what is said and what is done, only a fool believes what was said.
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The undeserving maintain power by promoting hysteria.
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Democracy is susceptible to being led astray by having scapegoats paraded in front of the electorate.
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A person needs new experiences. They jar something deep inside, allowing you to grow. Without them, it sleeps- seldom to awaken. The sleeper must awaken.
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To know the future absolutely it to be trapped into that future absolutely. It collapses time. Present becomes future.
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The writing of history is largely a process of diversion. Most historical accounts distract attention from the secret influences behind great events.
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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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A leader, you see, is one of the things that distinguishes a mob from a people.
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I never thought it would be easy to serve God, she said. I just didn't think it would be this hard.
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Remember: Bureaucracy elevates conformity ... Make that elevates 'fatal stupidity' to the status of religion.
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To be a god can ultimately become boring and degrading. There'd be reason enough for the invention of free will! A god might wish to escape into sleep and be alive only in the unconscious projections of his dream-creatures.
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Revenge is for children and the emotionally retarded.
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Education is no substitute for intelligence. That elusive quality is defined only in part by puzzle-solving ability. It is in the creation of new puzzles reflecting what your senses report that you round out the definitions.
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