--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: FEAR IS THE MIND-KILLER. FEAR IS THE…" description: "\"FEAR IS THE MIND-KILLER. FEAR IS THE LITTLE-DEATH THAT BRINGS TOTAL OBLITERATION.\" — Frank Herbert" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/frank-herbert-262_books-and-movies_fear-is-the-mind-killer-fear-is-the-litt_3083603.jpg" --- # FEAR IS THE MIND-KILLER. FEAR IS THE LITTLE-DEATH THAT… ![“FEAR IS THE MIND-KILLER. FEAR IS THE LITTLE-DEATH THAT BRINGS TOTAL OBLITERATION.” quote by Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/frank-herbert-262_books-and-movies_fear-is-the-mind-killer-fear-is-the-litt_3083603.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/frank-herbert-262_books-and-movies_fear-is-the-mind-killer-fear-is-the-litt_3083603.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/frank-herbert-262_books-and-movies_fear-is-the-mind-killer-fear-is-the-litt_3083603.jpg) > “FEAR IS THE MIND-KILLER. FEAR IS THE LITTLE-DEATH THAT BRINGS TOTAL OBLITERATION.” [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear paralyzes the mind, acting as a destructive force that can lead to total ruin if unchecked. **In simple terms:** Fear destroys thought and can cause total collapse. Key Takeaway Recognize and confront fear to prevent its power. Themes psychology danger mind control Mood cautionary inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - high‑stress decisions - personal growth - leadership challenges Key Concepts fear as mental poison self‑sabotage cognitive threat Questions to Reflect On - What fears are holding you back? - How can you transform fear into useful vigilance? A Different Perspective Fear can also motivate caution and preparedness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books and movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books-and-movies/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Face your fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-your-fears/) [Facing death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facing-death/) [Facing fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facing-fear/) [Failure inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure-inspirational/) [Fantasy novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy-novels/) [Favourite book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favourite-book/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear of death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-death/) [Fear of failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-failure/) [Fears of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fears-of-life/) [Geek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geek/) [Great novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-novels/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Killers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killers/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Overcoming failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming-failure/) [Overcoming fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming-fear/) [Phobia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phobia/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Science fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction/) [Science fiction and fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction-and-fantasy/) [Scifi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scifi/) ## Related quotes > [Fear is the mind-killer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/fear-is-the-mind-killer/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/i-must-not-fear-fear-is-the-mind-killer-fear-is-the-little-death-that-2/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/fear-is-the-mind-killer-fear-is-the-little-death-that-brings-total/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/i-must-not-fear-fear-is-the-mind-killer/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear... 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I will face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/i-must-not-fear-she-intoned-her-eyes-closed-fear-is-the-mind-killer/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [“Fear isn’t the mind killer. It is fathoms deep and miles wide, more intri­cate than the pat­tern on a fine Per­sian rug. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myke-cole/fear-isn-t-the-mind-killer-it-is-fathoms-deep-and-miles-wide-more/) Myke Cole > [To quote from another gospel, DUNE by Frank Herbert, 'Fear is the mind-killer.' ... Jesus was the original Muad'dib.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/to-quote-from-another-gospel-dune-by-frank-herbert-fear-is-the-mind/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [As you grow older, you want to learn, you want to change, you want to evolve and you don't want to live in fear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-chancellor/as-you-grow-older-you-want-to-learn-you-want-to-change-you-want-to/) [Justin Chancellor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-chancellor/) > [In the absence of fear there is little faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-palin/in-the-absence-of-fear-there-is-little-faith/) [Michael Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-palin/) > [I fear it as little as to drink a cup of tea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-kelly/i-fear-it-as-little-as-to-drink-a-cup-of-tea/) [Ned Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-kelly/) > [Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pritchard/fear-is-that-little-darkroom-where-negatives-are-developed/) Michael Pritchard > [“Fear is the little dark room where negatives are developed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pritchard/fear-is-the-little-dark-room-where-negatives-are-developed/) Michael Pritchard ## More by Frank Herbert > [“He who can destroy a thing has the real control of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/he-who-can-destroy-a-thing-has-the-real-control-of-it/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“A leader, you see, is one of the things that distinguishes a mob from a people. 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