--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Power bases are very dangerous because…" description: "\"“Power bases are very dangerous because they attract people who are truly insane, people who seek power only for the sake of power.”\" — Frank Herbert" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/frank-herbert-262_quote_power-bases-are-very-dangerous-because-t_2174960.jpg" --- # Power bases are very dangerous because they attract people… ![“Power bases are very dangerous because they attract people who are truly insane, people who seek power only for the sake of power.” quote by Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/frank-herbert-262_quote_power-bases-are-very-dangerous-because-t_2174960.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/frank-herbert-262_quote_power-bases-are-very-dangerous-because-t_2174960.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/frank-herbert-262_quote_power-bases-are-very-dangerous-because-t_2174960.jpg) > ““Power bases are very dangerous because they attract people who are truly insane, people who seek power only for the sake of power.”” [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. Power structures attract dangerous individuals who seek power for its own sake. **In simple terms:** Power draws the insane. Key Takeaway Beware of power for power's sake. Themes power danger leadership Mood cautious analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - organizational leadership - political movements - corporate governance Key Concepts political theory psychology corruption Questions to Reflect On - How can we prevent power abuse? - What safeguards deter power‑hungry individuals? A Different Perspective Power can be used responsibly with checks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [It took less than half a second for me to realize that, as long as I was truly insane now, I might as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/it-took-less-than-half-a-second-for-me-to-realize-that-as-long-as-i/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [“Will you be able to keep your hands off me?" "I'm pretty sure I can manage that," she said, wondering if the man truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-mathewson/will-you-be-able-to-keep-your-hands-off-me-i-m-pretty-sure-i-can/) [R.L. Mathewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-mathewson/) > [In a world gone mad, only a lunatic is truly insane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/in-a-world-gone-mad-only-a-lunatic-is-truly-insane/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [The history of saints is mainly the history of insane people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/the-history-of-saints-is-mainly-the-history-of-insane-people/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [I could spend my whole life prying loose the secrets of the insane. These people are honest to a fault, and their naivety has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-breton/i-could-spend-my-whole-life-prying-loose-the-secrets-of-the-insane/) [Andre Breton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-breton/) > [Religious mysticism is intellectual garbage. It’s a vestige of the old superstitious Dark Ages when nobody knew anything...It is one of those delusions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/religious-mysticism-is-intellectual-garbage-it-s-a-vestige-of-the-old/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Yes, this is 21st-century America. Where we have better means to treat mental illness than ever before, but choose to let the insane people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-lowry/yes-this-is-21st-century-america-where-we-have-better-means-to-treat/) [Rich Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-lowry/) > [A lot of seriously insane people have managed to acquire huge followings based on the idea that their insanity is a kind of enlightenment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/a-lot-of-seriously-insane-people-have-managed-to-acquire-huge/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [The Internet's a crazy place to hang out because it's insane to see so many people doing so many creative things all over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-giacchino/the-internet-s-a-crazy-place-to-hang-out-because-it-s-insane-to-see/) [Michael Giacchino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-giacchino/) > [When the insane people start the chatter, there's no way to win that fight. It's literally like arguing with someone who is speaking another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-konner/when-the-insane-people-start-the-chatter-there-s-no-way-to-win-that/) [Jennifer Konner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-konner/) > [The world is full of insane people, they just don't know how to keep their mouth shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miss-jy/the-world-is-full-of-insane-people-they-just-don-t-know-how-to-keep/) Miss Jy > [Insane people are always sure that they are fine. It is only the sane people who are willing to admit that they are crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/insane-people-are-always-sure-that-they-are-fine-it-is-only-the-sane/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“Delusions are hardly an escape from reality. It’s a way of understanding insane people living in a backwards world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/delusions-are-hardly-an-escape-from-reality-it-s-a-way-of/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [You have to remember, that insane people can do some horrors themselves. I had committed no crime, though. I hadn't shot anybody. Yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/you-have-to-remember-that-insane-people-can-do-some-horrors/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [We need to identify insane people. I don't think they should have guns, cars or be allowed to vote. I think they need care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/we-need-to-identify-insane-people-i-don-t-think-they-should-have-guns/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) ## 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 Dangerous quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [We're not very dangerous animals; we don't have a horn like a rhino or quills like a porcupine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/we-re-not-very-dangerous-animals-we-don-t-have-a-horn-like-a-rhino-or/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [“It is dangerous to lock oneself away and lose track of what is happening outside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/it-is-dangerous-to-lock-oneself-away-and-lose-track-of-what-is/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [Its extremely dangerous to compare anyone else to Shakespeare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/its-extremely-dangerous-to-compare-anyone-else-to-shakespeare/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [In my youth-team days, I was always a left-winger who would stay close to the byline and put crosses in the box, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/in-my-youth-team-days-i-was-always-a-left-winger-who-would-stay-close/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [The temptations of God were always more dangerous for mankind than those of Satan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-temptations-of-god-were-always-more-dangerous-for-mankind-than/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [When you start talking about elections being rigged, you're pushing people beyond democratic governance. And it's a very, very dangerous thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/when-you-start-talking-about-elections-being-rigged-you-re-pushing/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [Die gefährlichste Weltanschauung ist die Weltanschauung derer, die die Welt nie angeschaut haben. (The most dangerous worldview is the worldview of those who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/die-gef-hrlichste-weltanschauung-ist-die-weltanschauung-derer-die-die/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [The most dangerous creature here would have to be me. So maybe I'm just scared of my own shadow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-most-dangerous-creature-here-would-have-to-be-me-so-maybe-i-m/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [The more people that learn about you, even if you're an underdog, then you can come under fire a lot and the more attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/the-more-people-that-learn-about-you-even-if-you-re-an-underdog-then/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [Anyone who maintains absolute standards of good and evil is dangerous. As dangerous as a maniac with a loaded revolver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/anyone-who-maintains-absolute-standards-of-good-and-evil-is-dangerous/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The proliferation of right-to-carry laws throughout the states has drawn plaintive complaints from the criminal element. They feel that it makes their profession too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-proliferation-of-right-to-carry-laws-throughout-the-states-has/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) Browse all 6,450 Dangerous quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Power bases are very dangerous because they attract people who are truly insane, people who seek power only for the sake of power.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frank Herbert" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/power-bases-are-very-dangerous-because-they-attract-people-who-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dangerous" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/power-bases-are-very-dangerous-because-they-attract-people-who-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/frank-herbert-262_quote_power-bases-are-very-dangerous-because-t_2174960.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/frank-herbert-262_quote_power-bases-are-very-dangerous-because-t_2174960.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/frank-herbert-262_quote_power-bases-are-very-dangerous-because-t_2174960.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Power bases are very dangerous because they attract people who are truly insane, people who seek power only…” — Frank Herbert", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Frank Herbert", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Power bases are very dangerous because...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/power-bases-are-very-dangerous-because-they-attract-people-who-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/power-bases-are-very-dangerous-because-they-attract-people-who-are/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```