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Fear Is the Mind Killer
Fear and Triumph in Frank Herbert’s Dune
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. And Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me, and through me.”
This quote from Frank Herbert’s seminal sci-fi novel Dune conveys a profoundly important philosophical message. It is spoken as a litany by the Bene Gesserit, an order of highly trained and disciplined women who have honed their minds and bodies to peak performance.
And Duke Paul Atreides, the heir to the throne on the planet Caladan, although a royal, still has his studies in the Bene Gesserit way. In this scene, he is being tested by a Bene Gesserit priestess, where Paul is internally reciting this mantra while being tested.
The scene from 1984 David Lynch version of the film
To understand the full meaning behind this quote, we must examine its context within the unique fictional universe of Dune. Herbert paints a feudal interstellar society, where various Great Houses rule over different planets and constantly vie for power, wealth, and prestige. This setting is intentionally similar to medieval fiefdoms and empires from human history. Technologies like interstellar space travel coexist alongside swords and knives as common personal weapons. It is a universe…