---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The concept of progress acts as a…"
description: "\"The concept of progress acts as a protective mechanism to shield us from the terrors of the future.\" — Frank Herbert"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/frank-herbert-262_growth_the-concept-of-progress-acts-as-a-protec_938290.jpg"
---

#  The concept of progress acts as a protective mechanism to…

![“The concept of progress acts as a protective mechanism to shield us from the terrors of the future.” quote by Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/frank-herbert-262_growth_the-concept-of-progress-acts-as-a-protec_938290.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/frank-herbert-262_growth_the-concept-of-progress-acts-as-a-protec_938290.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/frank-herbert-262_growth_the-concept-of-progress-acts-as-a-protec_938290.jpg)

> “The concept of progress acts as a protective mechanism to shield us from the terrors of the future.”

[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.

Progress can be used as a comforting illusion to avoid confronting future uncertainties.

**In simple terms:** Progress may mask fear of the unknown.

Key Takeaway

Question the motives behind progress narratives.

Themes

progress fear future psychology

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- business strategy
- political policy
- personal growth

Key Concepts

existentialism critical theory

Questions to Reflect On

- What does progress mean to you?
- Are you using progress to avoid fear?

A Different Perspective

Blindly chasing progress can ignore real risks.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Utopia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/utopia/)

## Related quotes

> [... I think it is fair to say that all war photographers hide behind their cameras. I hid behind mine for years and years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-mydans/i-think-it-is-fair-to-say-that-all-war-photographers-hide-behind/)

Carl Mydans

> [I am a light person. I think of myself with a shield, a protective shield around me. And I think of bad things bouncing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-brook/i-am-a-light-person-i-think-of-myself-with-a-shield-a-protective/)

[Kelly Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-brook/)

> [Both of us were orphans. No one would remember what we remembered. The elders that stood as protective shields, as references to our past,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-browne/both-of-us-were-orphans-no-one-would-remember-what-we-remembered-the/)

[Sylvia Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-browne/)

> [Most of us hide behind egocentric biases that generate the illusion that we are special. These self-serving protective shields allow us to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/most-of-us-hide-behind-egocentric-biases-that-generate-the-illusion/)

[Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/)

> [Religions often partake of the myth of progress that shields us from the terrors of an uncertain future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/religions-often-partake-of-the-myth-of-progress-that-shields-us-from/)

[Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/)

> [I'm a very protective person and I'm very, I don't want to say shy, but I tend to fall for people once I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-kane/i-m-a-very-protective-person-and-i-m-very-i-don-t-want-to-say-shy-but/)

[Chelsea Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-kane/)

> [And you've actually watched it yourself?' I asked. 'Willingly?' Sure. I had to see it, you know? Besides we should be safe. Only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/and-you-ve-actually-watched-it-yourself-i-asked-willingly-sure-i-had/)

[Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/)

> [I love my sister for being protective over me. Cute!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-my-sister-for-being-protective-over-me-cute/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [With the arrival of electric technology, man has extended, or set outside himself, a live model of the central nervous system itself. To the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/with-the-arrival-of-electric-technology-man-has-extended-or-set/)

[Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/)

> [Iron and coal dominated everywhere, from grey to black: the black boots, the black stove-pipe hat, the black coach or carriage, the black iron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/iron-and-coal-dominated-everywhere-from-grey-to-black-the-black-boots/)

[Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/)

> [“When we love someone, we make it our business to protect them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/when-we-love-someone-we-make-it-our-business-to-protect-them/)

[Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

> [I get very protective of kids on set. I always make a point of telling kids that anything that makes them feel unsafe or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ormond/i-get-very-protective-of-kids-on-set-i-always-make-a-point-of-telling/)

[Julia Ormond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ormond/)

> [ I glanced at Radu. "What, exactly is Louis-Cesare's problem?'. \[..\] Suddenly a speculative gleam lit his eyes. It made me nervous. 'He tends to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/i-glanced-at-radu-what-exactly-is-louis-cesare-s-problem-suddenly-a/)

[Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/)

> [I stand up for other people, I'm very protective of people around me. If I feel like somebody is getting a bad rap or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-stand-up-for-other-people-i-m-very-protective-of-people-around-me/)

[Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/)

> [Mooner was walking around laying his hands on the cars, divining karma. "this is it", he said, standing by a small khaki-colored jeep."this car…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/mooner-was-walking-around-laying-his-hands-on-the-cars-divining-karma/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

## 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 Growth quotes

> [My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. He had more influence on my growth as a player than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamarcus-aldridge/my-coach-robert-allen-helped-me-a-lot-he-had-more-influence-on-my/)

[LaMarcus Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamarcus-aldridge/)

> [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/)

Phil Hogan

> [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/)

[Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/)

> [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/)

[Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/)

> [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-urge-you-don-t-cut-short-these-thought-trains-of-yours-follow-them/)

[J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/)

> [“Economic growth continued by means of a succession of new products which found growing and ultimately massive demand. Some of the new products were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-a-hudson/economic-growth-continued-by-means-of-a-succession-of-new-products/)

[Edward A. Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-a-hudson/)

> [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/)

[Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/)

> [If you learn something that changes you, you've made progress. If you learn something that changes others, you've helped change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lanie-lane/if-you-learn-something-that-changes-you-you-ve-made-progress-if-you/)

Lanie Lane

> [“SILENT LIKE SLEEP You appear by my side, silent like sleep. Soft hair, a little wild. No fear, gentle like a calm river. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/silent-like-sleep-you-appear-by-my-side-silent-like-sleep-soft-hair-a/)

[Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

> [Friendship, "the wine of life," should, like a well-stocked cellar, be continually renewed; and it is consolatory to think, that although we can seldom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-boswell/friendship-the-wine-of-life-should-like-a-well-stocked-cellar-be/)

[James Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-boswell/)

> [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/)

[Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/)

> [“There is no growth without risk. There is always something to be gained from any experience. It is up to us to interpret our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truth-devour/there-is-no-growth-without-risk-there-is-always-something-to-be/)

Truth Devour

> [Create an environment for people to fail, to learn, and to grow. Their creativity and productivity will increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/create-an-environment-for-people-to-fail-to-learn-and-to-grow-their/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You have to improve; that's how you develop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gustafsson/you-have-to-improve-that-s-how-you-develop/)

[Alexander Gustafsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gustafsson/)

[Browse all 9,113 Growth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The concept of progress acts as a protective mechanism to shield us from the terrors of the future.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Frank Herbert"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/the-concept-of-progress-acts-as-a-protective-mechanism-to-shield-us/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Growth"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/the-concept-of-progress-acts-as-a-protective-mechanism-to-shield-us/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/frank-herbert-262_growth_the-concept-of-progress-acts-as-a-protec_938290.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/frank-herbert-262_growth_the-concept-of-progress-acts-as-a-protec_938290.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/frank-herbert-262_growth_the-concept-of-progress-acts-as-a-protec_938290.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The concept of progress acts as a protective mechanism to shield us from the terrors of the future.” — 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": "The concept of progress acts as...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/the-concept-of-progress-acts-as-a-protective-mechanism-to-shield-us/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/the-concept-of-progress-acts-as-a-protective-mechanism-to-shield-us/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
