Frank Herbert

Does a population have informed consent when that population is not taught the inner workings of its monetary system, and then is drawn, all unknowing, into economic adventures?

Does a populace have informed consent when a ruling minority acts in secret to ignite a war, doing this to justify the existence of the minority's forces? History already has answered that question. Every society in the ConSentiency today reflects the historical judgment that failure to provide full information for informed consent on such an issue represents an ultimate crime.

Governments always commit their entire populations when the demands grow heavy enough. By their passive acceptance, these populations become accessories to whatever is done in their name.

That is one of the Law's purposes, of course: to test the qualities of those who choose to employ it.

" Life exists immersed in a sea of unconsciousness", he reminded himself.

"In the drug, these people gain a view of that sea".

Learning a language represents training in the delusions of that language.

You can say things which cannot be done. This is elementary. The trick is to keep attention focused on what is said and not on what can be done.

Providence and Manifest Destiny are synonyms often invoked to support arguments based on wishful thinking.

"It isn't surprising," Piaget said, "to find the 'N-square' law from warfare being applied to advertising and politics — other kinds of warfare, you see — with no real conversion problem from one field to the other. Each has its concepts of concentration and exposure. The mathematics of differentials and predictions apply equally well, no matter the field of battle".

Where is the weapon with which I enforce your bondage? You give it to me every time you open your mouth.

It wasn’t the kind of answer he'd expected — too subtly penetrating and leaving too much uncommitted. He reminded himself that it was difficult to control uncommitted people. Once a man had invested his energies, he could be twisted and turned at will... but if the man held back, conserved those energies...

"A slave is one who must produce wealth for another," the Brain said. "There is only one true wealth in all the universe. I have given you some of it. I have given your father and your mate some of it. And your friends. This wealth is living time. Time. Are we slaves because we have given you more time to live?"