“There exists a limit to the force even the most powerful may apply without destroying themselves. Judging this limit is the true artistry of government. Misuse of power is the fatal sin. The law cannot be a tool of vengeance, never a hostage, nor a fortification against the martyrs it has created. You cannot threaten any individual and escape the consequences.”

American science-fiction author

Frank Herbert was an American science-fiction author. He is best known for the 1965 novel Dune and its five sequels. He also wrote short stories and worked in several other roles, including newspaper journalist, photographer, book reviewer, ecological consultant, and lecturer. His reputation rests above all on Dune and the wider series that followed it.