“I am like a person whose hands were kept numb, without sensation from the first moment of awareness - until one day the ability to feel is forced into them. And I say "Look! I have no hands!" But the people all around me say: "What are hands?”
Explore This Quote Further
Quote Analysis
In this quote by Frank Herbert, the speaker metaphorically describes feeling isolated and disconnected from those around them. The use of the metaphor of hands being numb, and then suddenly gaining sensation, illustrates the feeling of finally becoming aware of something that was previously absent. Despite the speaker's new awareness, the people around them are unable to understand or relate to this newfound insight, highlighting the theme of individuality and the struggle to convey personal experiences to others. The quote serves as a powerful commentary on the challenges of communication and understanding in a world where not everyone may share the same experiences or perspective.
Understanding the Value of Ignorance
In this quote by Frank Herbert, the author illustrates the concept of ignorance until a new perspective is gained. This idea can be applied to the modern world in various ways, highlighting the importance of recognizing and appreciating new viewpoints.
Reflection on Perception and Awareness
"I am like a person whose hands were kept numb, without sensation from the first moment of awareness - until one day the ability to feel is forced into them. And I say, 'Look! I have no hands!' But the people all around me say, 'What are hands?'" - Frank Herbert
Reflection Questions
In this quote by Frank Herbert, the idea of suddenly realizing a lack of awareness or understanding is presented. Reflecting on this quote can help us examine our own perceptions and assumptions. Consider the following questions:
- Have there been moments in your life where you suddenly became aware of something you had been missing or unaware of previously?
- How do you think societal norms and expectations can influence our perceptions of reality?
- Do you believe that understanding and awareness are innate qualities or learned behaviors?
- How can we cultivate a deeper sense of self-awareness and understanding in our own lives?
- In what ways can empathy and open-mindedness help us broaden our perspectives and challenge our assumptions?
Similar quotes
“There is no measuring Muad'Dib's motives by ordinary standards. In the moment of his triumph, he saw the death prepared for him, yet he accepted the treachery. Can you say he did this out of a sense of justice? Whose justice, then? Remember, we speak now of the Muad'Dib who ordered battle drums made from his enemies' skins, the Muad'Dib who denied the conventions of his ducal past with a wave of the hand, saying merely: 'I am the Kwisatz Haderach. That is reason enough.”
“All of history is a malleable instrument in my hands. Ohhh, I have accumulated all of these pasts and I possess every fact—yet the facts are mine to use as I will and, even using them truthfully, I change them.”
“Religion must remain an outlet for people who say to themselves, 'I am not the kind of person I want to be.' It must never sink into an assemblage of the self-satisfied.”
“I have said: "Blow out the lamp! Day is here!" And you keep saying: "Give me a lamp so I can find the day.”
“Right from the first, the little people who formed the governments which promised to equalize the social burdens found themselves suddenly in the hands of bureaucratic aristocracies. Of course, all bureaucracies follow this pattern, but what a hypocrisy to find this even under a communized banner. Ahhh, well, if patterns teach me anything it’s that patterns are repeated.”
“But, later, coming back and reading what I have produced, I am unable to detect the difference between what came easily and when I had to sit down and say, "Well, now it's writing time and now I'll write.”