Bene Gesserit Litany

Litany Against Fear

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
- Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear

Login or Signup to reply to this post.

Irrational fear, perhaps. But to have no fear at all is nonsense!
It is fear that gives us the surge of Adrenaline to give us the strength to flee danger. The person who says he has no fear when faced with danger is lying! Every animal will flee from fire, because it is dangerous.If they had no fear they would merely stand and be burnt to death. No animal is that stupid.

Very true, Brysing. I think that's what Dune meant. To face your fears.

It is the sentence beginning "Fear is the little death--" that is wrong.Taking action when faced with danger is not lack of fear; it is Courage. But there is a very severe problem with modern living and feeling fear; real or imagined. We are "programmed" to react when faced with danger, by the increase of Adrenaline that causes us to "flee or fight".Either action "drains" the Adrenaline.But, in a civilised society it is often the case that we can do neither! And the Adrenaline does not drain away. And that is the cause of the real "killer". Stress! Facing fear without taking any action causes Stress.
Source:-
Psychiatry: Treatment of Anxiety Neurosis.

Do you really think so? I think that Dune means that petty fears can be the death of a person. Like if you have a fear of going outside, you'll have the death of your face to face social life before you.

Just my thoughts. :)

I refer you to the first sentence of my post. Irrational fear,perhaps. "Fear of going outside" is irrational. I have lived through two wars.I know what real fear is!

Very true, Bry. Thanks for your comments. They've really made me broaden my perspective. :D