--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In politics, the tripod is he most…" description: "\"In politics, the tripod is he most unstable of all structures. It's be bad enough without the complication of a feudal trade culture which turns its ba..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11a/frank-herbert-262_complication_in-politics-the-tripod-is-he-most-unstab_1760837.jpg" --- # In politics, the tripod is he most unstable of all… ![“In politics, the tripod is he most unstable of all structures. It's be bad enough without the complication of a feudal trade culture which turns its back on most science.” quote by Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11a/frank-herbert-262_complication_in-politics-the-tripod-is-he-most-unstab_1760837.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11a/frank-herbert-262_complication_in-politics-the-tripod-is-he-most-unstab_1760837.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11a/frank-herbert-262_complication_in-politics-the-tripod-is-he-most-unstab_1760837.jpg) > “In politics, the tripod is he most unstable of all structures. It's be bad enough without the complication of a feudal trade culture which turns its back on most science.” [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. Political systems built on fragile foundations collapse easily, especially when mixed with outdated trade customs that ignore scientific progress. **In simple terms:** Unstable politics crumble when old trade customs clash with science. Key Takeaway Avoid relying on fragile political structures. Themes politics instability economics science tradition Mood cautious analytical Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - government reform - trade negotiations - science policy - historical analysis Key Concepts systems theory political economy cultural inertia Questions to Reflect On - What modern political structures are most vulnerable? - How can science be better integrated into policy? A Different Perspective Complex societies may adapt rather than collapse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure/) [Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade/) [Tripods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tripods/) ## Related quotes > [But my heart is always propped up in a field on its tripod, ready for the next arrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/but-my-heart-is-always-propped-up-in-a-field-on-its-tripod-ready-for/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [When I got the camera on the shoulder, they give me a nickname. They call me 'the tripod' because I'm kind of short and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-besson/when-i-got-the-camera-on-the-shoulder-they-give-me-a-nickname-they/) [Luc Besson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-besson/) > [My preference is that, that day when someone sticks a tripod in front of you with a camera on the top, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/my-preference-is-that-that-day-when-someone-sticks-a-tripod-in-front/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [...photographers who carry 60 pounds of equipment up a hill to photograph a view are not suffering enough, although their whining causes enough suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/photographers-who-carry-60-pounds-of-equipment-up-a-hill-to/) [Bill Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/) > [I'm too impatient to use a tripod.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-gibson/i-m-too-impatient-to-use-a-tripod/) [Ralph Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-gibson/) > [There are ways of angling the camera. I don't just use a tripod. The only time I did that was in '88 when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/there-are-ways-of-angling-the-camera-i-don-t-just-use-a-tripod-the/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [It would have been possible to structure my photographs in such a way that no indicators of the present were discernible. However, I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pfahl/it-would-have-been-possible-to-structure-my-photographs-in-such-a-way/) [John Pfahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pfahl/) > [At first, when I did everything myself, I'd set up a tripod, film and then press stop. That's why all my shots are on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-ziqi/at-first-when-i-did-everything-myself-i-d-set-up-a-tripod-film-and/) [Li Ziqi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-ziqi/) > [Had a blast last night at the Tripod, such a great club and the crowd always give you so much energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-digweed/had-a-blast-last-night-at-the-tripod-such-a-great-club-and-the-crowd/) [John Digweed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-digweed/) > [“Thanks, tripod," Eric said… "Tripod?" Jace asked. 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You watch the slope lope of a lioness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/africa-you-can-see-a-sunset-and-believe-you-have-witnessed-the-hand/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [ I once recommended \[in a San Francisco Chronicle column\] that a third arm - a plastic arm - be sewn at the base of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/i-once-recommended-in-a-san-francisco-chronicle-column-that-a-third/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [And now was acknowledged the presence of the Red Death. He had come like a thief in the night. And one by one dropped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/and-now-was-acknowledged-the-presence-of-the-red-death-he-had-come/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [Some cameras are heavier and need to be on tripods. Others are small enough to hide in your pocket. There are places where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-mekas/some-cameras-are-heavier-and-need-to-be-on-tripods-others-are-small/) [Jonas Mekas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-mekas/) ## 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. He maintains the level of individuals. Too few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/a-leader-you-see-is-one-of-the-things-that-distinguishes-a-mob-from-a/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“I will tell you this only once. Homosexuals have been among the best warriors in our history, the berserkers of last resort. They were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/i-will-tell-you-this-only-once-homosexuals-have-been-among-the-best/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“Between depriving a man of one hour from his life and depriving him of his life there exists only a difference of degree.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/between-depriving-a-man-of-one-hour-from-his-life-and-depriving-him/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [The surest way to keep a secret is to make someone think they already know the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/the-surest-way-to-keep-a-secret-is-to-make-someone-think-they-already/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“how inevitable it was that the aristocrat would refuse his final duty—which was to step aside and vanish into history.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/how-inevitable-it-was-that-the-aristocrat-would-refuse-his-final-duty/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“What we should have done was test the gift first. We should have probed for dangers. We were too bedazzled by it, though.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/what-we-should-have-done-was-test-the-gift-first-we-should-have/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“Have you noticed, Stil, how beautiful the young women are this year?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/have-you-noticed-stil-how-beautiful-the-young-women-are-this-year/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“Humans are born with a susceptibility to that most persistent and debilitating disease of intellect: self-deception. The best of all possible worlds and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/humans-are-born-with-a-susceptibility-to-that-most-persistent-and/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Face your fears or they will climb over your back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/face-your-fears-or-they-will-climb-over-your-back/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Many have marked the speed with which Muad'Dib learned the necessities of Arrakis. The Bene Gesserit, of course, know the basis of this speed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/many-have-marked-the-speed-with-which-muad-dib-learned-the/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“The assumption that a whole system can be made to work better through an assault on its conscious elements betrays a dangerous ignorance. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/the-assumption-that-a-whole-system-can-be-made-to-work-better-through/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [The power to destroy a thing is the absolute control over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/the-power-to-destroy-a-thing-is-the-absolute-control-over-it/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Providence and Manifest Destiny are synonyms often invoked to support arguments based on wishful thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/providence-and-manifest-destiny-are-synonyms-often-invoked-to-support/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [If you ask "Should we be in space?" you ask a nonsense question. We are in space. We will be in space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/if-you-ask-should-we-be-in-space-you-ask-a-nonsense-question-we-are/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) [Explore all 776 Frank Herbert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) ## More Complication quotes > [Playing for complications is an extreme measure that a player should adopt only when he cannot find a clear and logical plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-alekhine/playing-for-complications-is-an-extreme-measure-that-a-player-should/) [Alexander Alekhine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-alekhine/) > [frustration, complication and misery are available in abundance, but so is God's grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/frustration-complication-and-misery-are-available-in-abundance-but-so/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Ive always liked the idea of being a father. And Ive always romanticised it, because I lost my father when I was young. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/ive-always-liked-the-idea-of-being-a-father-and-ive-always/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [Unfortunately, nature seems unaware of our intellectual need for convenience and unity, and very often takes delight in complication and diversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-ramon-y-cajal/unfortunately-nature-seems-unaware-of-our-intellectual-need-for/) [Santiago Ramon y Cajal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-ramon-y-cajal/) > [Probably, the secret is to be less complicated. We of course love to make complications - look at the way we live. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-huxley/probably-the-secret-is-to-be-less-complicated-we-of-course-love-to/) [Laura Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-huxley/) > [Love with complications. Scenery was the last thing on my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/love-with-complications-scenery-was-the-last-thing-on-my-mind/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Maternal health remains a staggering challenge, particularly in the developing world. Globally, a woman dies from complications in childbirth every minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-capshaw/maternal-health-remains-a-staggering-challenge-particularly-in-the/) [Jessica Capshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-capshaw/) > [Midwives and doctors play a crucial role preventing unnecessary maternal deaths. They educate women about nutrition, health and family planning. And they step in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/midwives-and-doctors-play-a-crucial-role-preventing-unnecessary/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) > [There are children who will leave a game to go and be bored in a corner of the garret. How often have I wished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-bachelard/there-are-children-who-will-leave-a-game-to-go-and-be-bored-in-a/) [Gaston Bachelard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-bachelard/) > [Discrimination and multiple deprivations of human rights are also frequently part of the problem, sentencing entire populations to poverty... It is surely a matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/navi-pillay/discrimination-and-multiple-deprivations-of-human-rights-are-also/) Navi Pillay > [Man is a rational animal—so at least I have been told. … Aristotle, so far as I know, was the first man to proclaim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/man-is-a-rational-animal-so-at-least-i-have-been-told-aristotle-so/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Nothing worthwhile is ever without complications.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/nothing-worthwhile-is-ever-without-complications/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [The worst crime of all would be that a mistake happens and no one talks about it or learns from it. So, as unsettling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjay-gupta/the-worst-crime-of-all-would-be-that-a-mistake-happens-and-no-one/) [Sanjay Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjay-gupta/) > [..if a special geometry has to be invented in order to account for a falling apple, even Newton might be appalled at the complications…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-lodge/if-a-special-geometry-has-to-be-invented-in-order-to-account-for-a/) [Oliver Lodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-lodge/) > [Complexity begets ambiguity, which yields in all ways to prejudice and avarice. Complication does not so much defeat Men as arm them with fancy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/complexity-begets-ambiguity-which-yields-in-all-ways-to-prejudice-and/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) Browse all 216 Complication quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In politics, the tripod is he most unstable of all structures. 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