Dune Messiah (Dune, #2)

by Frank Herbert

Empires do not suffer emptiness of purpose at the time of their creation. It is when they have become established that aims are lost and replaced by vague ritual.

To glimpse the future was to steal terrifying fire from a sacred flame.

“Power tends to isolate those who hold too much of it. Eventually, they lose touch with reality . . . and fall.”

“Even your Empire, my lord, must live its time and die.”

All civilizations and empire must live their time and die

The flesh surrenders itself, he thought. Eternity takes back its own. Our bodies stirred these waters briefly, danced with a certain intoxication before the love of life and self, dealt with a few strange ideas, then submitted to the instruments of Time. What can we say of this? I occurred. I am not . . . yet, I occurred.

Aging, decay, death