My father once told me that respect for truth comes close to being the basis for all morality. 'Something cannot emerge from nothing,' he said. This is profound thinking if you understand how unstable 'the truth' can be.
Frank HerbertRead
Most deadly errors arise from obsolete assumptions.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Outdated beliefs can lead to serious mistakes.
This quote emphasizes the danger of holding onto outdated assumptions, suggesting that many critical errors stem from an unwillingness to adapt or reassess our beliefs in light of new information. It serves as a reminder to continuously evaluate our understanding of the world and remain open to change to avoid potentially harmful consequences.
Themes
ErrorsAssumptionsChangeWisdomAdaptation
In practice
Example use cases
During a team meeting, referencing this quote could encourage colleagues to question outdated methods.
More from Frank Herbert
All quotes βIf you need something to worship, then worship life - all life, every last crawling bit of it! We're all in this beauty together!
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Religion must remain an outlet for people who say to themselves, "I am not the kind of person I want to be." It must never sink into an assemblage of the self-satisfied.
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To know a thing well, know it's limits; Only when pushed beyond it's tolerance will it's true nature be seen. -The Amtal Rule
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Technology tends toward avoidance of risks by investors. Uncertainty is ruled out if possible. People generally prefer the predictable. Few recognize how destructive this can be, how it imposes severe limits on variability and thus makes whole populations fatally vulnerable to the shocking ways our universe can throw the dice.
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It is impossible to live in the past, difficult to live in the present and a waste to live in the future.
Frank HerbertRead
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