Most civilisation is based on cowardice. It's so easy to civilize by teaching cowardice. You water down the standards which would lead to bravery. You restrain the will. You regulate the appetites. You fence in the horizons. You make a law for every movement. You deny the existence of chaos. You teach even the children to breathe slowly. You tame.
Frank HerbertThe surest way to keep a secret is to make people believe they already know the answer.
Frank HerbertPrisons are needed only to provide the illusion that courts and police are effective. They're a kind of job insurance.
Frank HerbertA leader is one of the things that distinguishes a mob from a people. He maintains the level of individuals. Too few individuals and a people reverts to a mob.
Frank HerbertPolitics: the art of appearing candid and completely open while concealing as much as possible.
Frank HerbertThe mistakes (of leaders) are amplified by the numbers who follow them without question. Charismatic leaders tend to build up followings, power structures and these power structures tend to be taken over by people who are corruptible. I don't think that the old saw about 'power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely' is accurate: I think power attracts the corruptible.
Frank Herbert