Quote: The Origin of Law
Frank Herbert’s Dune novels are rife with quotable passages on any number of topics. Here’s one of my favorites, regarding the origin of law:
The convoluted wording of legalisms grew up around the necessity to hide from ourselves the violence we intend toward each other. Between depriving a man of one hour from his life and depriving him of his life there exists only a difference of degree. You have done violence to him, consumed his energy. Elaborate euphemisms may conceal your intent to kill, but behind any use of power over another the ultimate assumption remains: “I feed on your energy.”
-Addenda to orders in council; the Emperor Paul Muad’dib
[Source: Dune Messiah (published 1969) via WikiQuote]
No comments yet.
Have your say