Today’s quote is a quote from Wikiquote from the 1965 book Dune by Frank Herbert:
There is in each of us an ancient force that takes and an ancient force that gives.
A man finds little difficulty facing that place within himself where the taking force dwells, but it’s almost impossible for him to see into the giving force without changing into something other than man.
For a woman, the situation is reversed. …
These things are so ancient within us that they’re ground into each separate cell of our bodies.
We’re shaped by such forces.
You can say to yourself, ‘Yes, I see how such a thing may be.’ But when you look inward and confront the raw force of your own life unshielded, you see your peril.
You see that this could overwhelm you.
The greatest peril to the Giver is the force that takes.
The greatest peril to the Taker is the force that gives.
It’s as easy to be overwhelmed by giving as by taking.
(And you, my son, are you one who gives or one who takes?
I’m the fulcrum. I cannot give without taking and I cannot take without…)
–Paul Atreides speaking to Lady Jessica | Dune (1965) | Book 3: The Prophet | Frank Herbert
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