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August 14 - October 22, 2025
The Kwisatz Haderach breeding program was designed to benefit humanity, but at what cost? At what human cost? —Lady Jessica, private journals
The danger posed by an enemy is directly proportional to the fear he instills. —Sardaukar battle training manual
To be a good leader it is necessary to informally—and constantly—assess the psychological well-being of all those around you. —Admonition from Muad’Dib
A man is composed of his memories, his history, his actions, and his reputation. —Duke Paulus Atreides, in a letter to his son
Knowledge is a commodity. Knowledge is a weapon. Knowledge is a threat. And we can never get enough of it. —CHOAM circular from Ur-Director Malina Aru to Inner Circle of High-Echelon Directors
When a Kwisatz Haderach fails to develop, it is a traumatic event, not only for the candidate but for the Kwisatz Mother in charge, who has so much invested in the program. Our records are littered with the names of the fallen, in both categories. —Secret Bene Gesserit breeding archives
Jessica touched the other woman’s hand, then withdrew before anyone could see. Emotions were a thing to be watched carefully and held in check. All emotions.
I have come to see that the trappings and masks throughout the Imperial Court are false, yet mutually accepted, a shared illusion. This is far removed from real life. —Duke Leto Atreides, letters to his son
I have many business associates, because CHOAM is a vast company with connections everywhere. I have fewer allies, because maintaining them requires long-term planning and a certain level of mutual trust. Fewer still are those I call friends. They are truly precious, but also extremely dangerous, because they know too much. I do not often take that risk. —CHOAM Ur-Director Malina Aru
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. 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. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
In order to achieve great things, one must first aspire, and that is where most people fall short. They have no spark to ignite the brilliant flame that leads to achievement. —Count Hasimir Fenring, private conversations with Emperor Shaddam IV
Every predator can become someone else’s prey. In order to survive, you must understand which you are. —CHOAM Ur-Director Malina Aru, The Evolutionary Chain of Business
Secrets, no matter how burdensome, should not be shared with friends. A secret can always turn on you. —Lady Jessica, private notes
Over the course of history, too many Landsraad nobles have evolved into purely political animals, losing sight of their humanity. —Duke Leto Atreides, letters to his son
The word blood can have several meanings. It may imply violence or family ties. When speaking of family, however, more than one meaning may apply. —Jaxson Aru, private eulogy for his father
My thoughts are with you. My words are with you. My heart is with you. Even if I must be far away, you still have the most important parts of me. —Lady Jessica, letter to Caladan
For any important job, one must choose the proper tool, whether it is a simple wrench or a mercenary army. —Baron Dmitri Harkonnen, notes on taking siridar-governorship of Arrakis
Too often, people are at cross-purposes. It should be the other way around. People should pull together, rather than pull apart. —Lady Jessica, private journals
In this life, we make many acquaintances. We share time with them until economic, familial, or other circumstances push us apart. But a truly good friend does not move on when circumstances change. —Lady Margot Fenring, love letters
The only true loyalty I’ve experienced is in my animals. They do not know how to be deceitful.
The brain is a powerful organ with tremendous untapped capabilities. It is the core of each human being, yet remains as mysterious as a distant cosmic realm. Doctors, psychologists, and researchers have barely begun to tap into its potential.
Even asleep, some people are dangerous enough to cause nightmares in others.
Even predators have rules, if you can survive long enough to learn them.
To do a thing, or not to do a thing—each path involves risk.
Camouflage is a critical survival skill, not only for exotic animals, but for astute business leaders.
Every day as we go about our lives, an unknown awaits us, only moments away from revealing itself, for good or ill. We swim in a universe of unknowns.
When a life form knows it is dying, a remarkable phenomenon can occur. Some plants burst into glorious foliage and flowers, then wither and die. It is their final, satisfying moment of beauty in the ever-challenging life cycle. Animals can feel a final, frenetic energy. This is the way with humans as well, if they have the internal strength to accomplish it.
Understand the depth of hatred our enemy holds for us. They may attack from any direction, and not always with military force. They can strike through bureaucracy or commerce, through the air we breathe or the food we eat.
Plans within plans within plans. Is anything the way it seems?
What is more valuable, loyalty or morality?
You can try to escape a prison, but you cannot flee the chains you carry with you.
When eyes are dazzled by the glare of bright, shiny things, they do not see the shadows underneath.
Emotions are an affliction to avoid in ourselves and exploit in others. Taking advantage of this weakness, this Achilles’ heel, is an art form.
The depth of a wound matters less than how close it strikes to the heart.
The most destructive weapon can be a trusted friend.
It is said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but the more significant beauty that lies inward is not as easy to detect, even by the person who possesses it.
Being human means doing things we don’t want to do, for our survival.
“Sometimes fate needs a nudge in the right direction. The trick is to determine what that direction should be.”
Measure the journey not in distance, but in the toll it takes on the heart.
For an assassin, the choice of an assigned target is normally not personal. But it can be.
The timing of information can be as useful, or as dangerous, as the information itself.
We all present a false face to others, to one degree or another. It is an aspect of humanity that speaks to the dark side of the species.
