“Clinging to any form of conservatism can be dangerous. Become too conservative and you are unprepared for surprises. You cannot depend on luck. Logic is blind and often knows only its own past. Logic is good for playing chess but is often too slow for the needs of survival.”
Usage Example
In this quote by Frank Herbert, he warns against the dangers of conservatism and the limitations of relying solely on logic for survival. Herbert suggests that being too conservative can leave one unprepared for unexpected situations and that logic, while useful in certain contexts like chess, may not always be fast enough to adapt to changing circumstances.
Frank Herbert on the Dangers of Conservatism
In this quote, Frank Herbert explores the dangers of clinging too tightly to conservative beliefs. He argues that being overly conservative can leave individuals unprepared for unexpected challenges and prevents them from adapting and evolving. Herbert emphasizes the importance of flexibility and open-mindedness, suggesting that relying solely on logic and past experiences can hinder one's ability to thrive in rapidly changing environments.
Herbert's quote serves as a reminder to always remain open to new ideas and approaches, as being too conservative can limit one's ability to navigate the uncertainties of life effectively.
The Importance of Adaptability in a Changing World
In today's rapidly evolving world, the words of Frank Herbert ring truer than ever. Clinging onto conservative ideas and ways of thinking can leave us unprepared for unexpected challenges and opportunities. In order to thrive and succeed in the modern age, it is crucial to remain adaptable and open to change. Logic and tradition can only take us so far; it is our ability to think creatively and act decisively that will ultimately determine our success in navigating the complexities of today's world.
Reflection Questions:
In this quote, Frank Herbert challenges the idea of clinging too closely to conservatism and the dangers that can come from being unprepared for surprises. Reflect on the following questions in relation to this quote:
How do you define conservatism in your own life? Are there areas where you may be holding on too tightly to traditional or familiar ways of thinking or doing things?
In what ways have you experienced the consequences of being unprepared for surprises in the past? How did those experiences shape your approach to future challenges or uncertainties?
Reflect on a time when you had to rely on logic to make a decision. Did that decision work out in your favor, or did you find that logic alone was insufficient for the situation? How did this experience influence your reliance on logic in the future?
How do you balance the need for logic and planning with the adaptability required for survival in unpredictable circumstances? Is there a way to find a middle ground between the two extremes Herbert describes in this quote?
Similar quotes
“But the Church cannot be, in any political sense, either conservative or liberal, or revolutionary. Conservatism is too often conservation of the wrong things: liberalism a relaxation of discipline; revolution a denial of the permanent things.”
“A man or a race either if he's any good can survive his past without even needing to escape from it and not because of the high quite often only too rhetorical rhetoric of humanity but for the simple indubitable practical reason of his future: that capacity to survive and absorb and endure and still be steadfast.”
“There is such a thing as too much beauty in a woman and it is often a burden as crippling as homeliness and far more dangerous. It takes much luck and integrity to survive the gift of perfect beauty, and its impermanence is its most cunning betrayal.”
“In this world are very few things made from logic alone. It is illogical for man to be too logical. Some things we must just let stand. The mystery is more important than any possible explanation. The searcher after truth must search with humanity. Ruthless logic is the sign of a limited mind. The truth can only add to the sum of what you know, while a harmless mystery left unexplored often adds to the meaning of life. When a truth is not so important, it is better left as a mystery.”
“Most of us, in our civilized society, rely too heavily on reasoning capacity to make things happen. We've been raised to believe that logic will prevail. Logic, in and of itself, will rarely influence people. Most often logic doesn't work.”