Frank Herbert Quotes

Tis not in battles that from youth we train The Governor who must be wise and good, And temper with the sternness of the brain Thoughts motherly, and meek as womanhood.

May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.

I would rather have a Scot come from Scotland to govern the people of this kingdom well and justly than that you should govern them ill in the sight of all the world

Many in positions of authority lack the capabilities to truly lead. They are not credible. They do not command genuine respect. They are not committed to serve. They are not continually learning and growing. They are not wise.

History admires the wise, but elevates the brave.

A government regulating itself by what is wise and just for the many, uninfluenced by the local and selfish views of the few who direct their affairs, has not been seen, perhaps, on earth. Or if it existed for a moment at the birth of ours, it would not be easy to fix the term of its continuance. Still, I believe it does exist here in a greater degree than anywhere else; and for its growth and continuance... I offer sincere prayers.

Courage is the essential element in any great public man or woman.

You are a great king because you excel in mercy.

To rule is an art, not a science.

Many have ruled well who could not perhaps define a Commonwealth.

Government is not the enemy. Government is simply a tool that can be used wisely or unwisely.

You can no more have a fool as a king than a blind man to lead you along the road

I know some say, let us have good laws, and no matter for the men that execute them: but let them consider, that though good laws do well, good men do better: for good laws may want good men, and be abolished or evaded by ill mend but good men will never want good laws, nor suffer ill ones.

A statesman gains little by the arbitrary exercise of ironclad authority upon all occasions that offer, for this wounds the just pride of his subordinates, and thus tends to undermine his strength. A little concession, now and then, where it can do no harm is the wiser policy

A wise man, when he writes a book, sets forth his arguments fully and clearly; an enlightened ruler, when he makes his laws, sees to it that every contingency is provided for in detail.

We all have this idea of Ram being a patient person besides being a great archer, a horse-rider, and above all, a compassionate king. There is more to him than that.

On him who wields power gently, the god looks favorably from afar.

The wise and the brave dares own that he was wrong.

Follow me, the wise man said, but he walked behind.

Wisdom and courage make mutual contributions to greatness.

he used to think that he wanted to be good, he wanted to be kind, he wanted to be brave and wise, but it was all pretty difficult. He wanted to be loved, too, if he could fit it in.

...for our wisdom is better than the strength of men or of horses. ... nor is it right to prefer strength to excellent wisdom. For if there should be in the city [any athlete whose skill] is honoured more than strength ... the city would not on that account be any better governed.

A wise man is a greater asset to a nation than a king.

It was wise enough to know itself, and brave enough to be itself, and wild enough to change itself while somehow staying altogether true.