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
Good governance never depends upon laws, but upon the personal qualities of those who govern. The machinery of government is always subordinate to the will of those who administer that machinery. The most important element of government, therefore, is the method of choosing leaders.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Good governance relies on the character of leaders rather than just laws.
This quote emphasizes that effective governance is fundamentally about the moral integrity and personal qualities of those in power, rather than solely the legal framework that governs them. It highlights the importance of selecting leaders carefully, as their decisions and values shape the outcome of governance and influence the functioning of governmental systems.
Themes
GovernanceLeadershipQualitiesGovernmentSelection
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about community development, one might use this quote to highlight the need for trustworthy leaders.
More from Frank Herbert
All quotes →If 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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It is impossible to live in the past, difficult to live in the present and a waste to live in the future.
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