A ruler must learn to persuade and not to compel.

We are generalists. You can't draw neat lines around planet-wide problems. Planetology is a cut-and-fit science.

Think on it, Chani: the princess will have the name, yet she'll live as less than a concubine - never to know a moment of tenderness from the man to whom she's bound. While we, Chani, we who carry the name of concubine - history will call us wives.

There is in each of us an ancient force that takes and an ancient force that gives. A man finds little difficulty facing that place within himself where the taking force dwells, but it's almost impossible for him to see into the giving force without changing into something other than man. For a woman, the situation is reversed. ... These things are so ancient within us that they're ground into each separate cell of our bodies... It's as easy to be overwhelmed by giving as by taking.

You should never be in the company of anyone with whom you would not want to die.

In 1054, the patriarch of Constantinople and the pope excommunicated each other. That was the end of holiness for both churches.

We accept too damned many things on the explanations of people who could have good reasons for lying.