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
Governments, if they endure, always tend increasingly toward aristocratic forms. No government in history has been known to evade this pattern. And as the aristocracy develops, government tends more and more to act exclusively in the interests of the ruling class -- whether that class be hereditary royalty, oligarchs of financial empires, or entrenched bureaucracy.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Governments tend to become more aristocratic over time, prioritizing the interests of the elite.
This quote by Frank Herbert suggests that throughout history, governments have a tendency to evolve into forms that favor a select ruling class, whether that be royalty, wealthy elites, or bureaucratic entities. As this aristocracy grows, the governance increasingly reflects the needs and desires of those in power, often at the expense of broader societal interests. This observation highlights the cyclical nature of power and governance, emphasizing a cautionary tale about the concentration of authority and wealth within a small group.
Themes
GovernmentAristocracyPowerEliteHistory
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a political debate to discuss the evolution of powers in governance.
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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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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Distrust everything I say. I am telling the truth.
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