Original artwork, not a still
Dune · 1965
Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense. But the real universe is always one step beyond logic.
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The warning limits the confidence of anyone who believes a neat explanation settles reality. In a story driven by visions, understanding more can still leave a person exposed to what they cannot control.
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In context
Spoilers for DuneShow the scene
Irulan’s Sayings of Muad’Dib supplies this epigraph in Book Three of Dune. The passage contrasts the desire for a comprehensible universe with the book’s persistent uncertainty about knowledge, prophecy and causation. It is a written framing text, rather than dialogue spoken by Irulan during the action.
Sources (3)
- Irulan epigraph, from the Sayings of Muad'Dib (Book Three; Book Riot p. 373) — reference 1Irulan epigraph, from the Sayings of Muad'Dib (Book Three; Book Riot p. 373); selected line and sceneReference checked
- Irulan epigraph, from the Sayings of Muad'Dib (Book Three; Book Riot p. 373) — reference 2Irulan epigraph, from the Sayings of Muad'Dib (Book Three; Book Riot p. 373); selected line and sceneReference checked
- Irulan epigraph, from the Sayings of Muad'Dib (Book Three; Book Riot p. 373) — reference 3Irulan epigraph, from the Sayings of Muad'Dib (Book Three; Book Riot p. 373); selected line and sceneReference checked
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