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
Riots and comedy are but symptoms of the times, profoundly revealing. They betray the psychological tone, the deep uncertainties....and the striving for something better, plus the fear that nothing would come of it all.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote underscores the connection between societal unrest and the human condition, highlighting our hopes and fears.
Frank Herbert's quote speaks to the underlying emotions that drive both civil disturbances and comedic expressions, suggesting that they reflect the collective psyche of society. The 'profound revealing' of these symptoms indicates a deep-seated uncertainty within individuals and communities, alongside a desire for improvement, all while grappling with the anxiety that such aspirations may ultimately lead to disappointment or futility.
Themes
SocietyUncertaintyComedyRiotsStrivingFear
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on social justice, I could use this quote to highlight the emotional state of society.
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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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.
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