--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is in each of us an ancient force…" description: "\"There is in each of us an ancient force that takes and an ancient force that gives. A man finds little difficulty facing that place within himself wher..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/frank-herbert-262_ancient_there-is-in-each-of-us-an-ancient-force_1126353.jpg" --- # There is in each of us an ancient force that takes and an… ![“There is in each of us an ancient force that takes and an ancient force that gives. A man finds little difficulty facing that place within himself where the taking force dwells, but it’s almost impossible for him to see into the giving force without changing into something other than man. For a…” quote by Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/frank-herbert-262_ancient_there-is-in-each-of-us-an-ancient-force_1126353.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/frank-herbert-262_ancient_there-is-in-each-of-us-an-ancient-force_1126353.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/frank-herbert-262_ancient_there-is-in-each-of-us-an-ancient-force_1126353.jpg) > “There is in each of us an ancient force that takes and an ancient force that gives. A man finds little difficulty facing that place within himself where the taking force dwells, but it’s almost impossible for him to see into the giving force without changing into something other than man. For a woman, the situation is reversed…These things are so ancient within us…that they’re ground into each separate cell of our bodies…It’s as easy to be overwhelmed by giving as by taking.” [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. Humans hold both taking and giving forces; recognizing the giving side requires transformation. **In simple terms:** We have both selfish and generous instincts. Key Takeaway Cultivate generosity beyond self‑interest. Themes selfishness generosity inner conflict Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - relationships - leadership - personal development Key Concepts dual nature psychology spiritual growth Questions to Reflect On - What inner barriers stop you from giving? - How can you balance taking and giving? A Different Perspective Giving may feel alien or uncomfortable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [Love is a very ancient force, which served its purpose in its day but no longer is essential for the survival of the species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/love-is-a-very-ancient-force-which-served-its-purpose-in-its-day-but/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [We recognize in a plant some unknown power, a single, form-giving force, which creates and conserves, which moves unwaveringly toward its end, which appropriates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-de-maistre/we-recognize-in-a-plant-some-unknown-power-a-single-form-giving-force/) [Joseph de Maistre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-de-maistre/) > [True compassion is not about giving or taking. True compassion is doing just what is needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/true-compassion-is-not-about-giving-or-taking-true-compassion-is/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [Who am I helping, what am I breaking, what am I giving, what am I taking?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/who-am-i-helping-what-am-i-breaking-what-am-i-giving-what-am-i-taking/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“The world is frenzied—giving and taking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-baggott/the-world-is-frenzied-giving-and-taking/) [Julianna Baggott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-baggott/) > [Relationships are about giving and taking, unfortunately some people take more than there are willing to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/relationships-are-about-giving-and-taking-unfortunately-some-people/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [We receive all we venture to give. And one of the things I've learned over the years is that giving is everything, and taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-anderson/we-receive-all-we-venture-to-give-and-one-of-the-things-i-ve-learned/) [Jon Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-anderson/) > [A relationship should be a balance between two people. One person shouldn't be giving, while the other is ONLY taking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-relationship-should-be-a-balance-between-two-people-one-person/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The difference between self love and being in love with yourself is that one results in giving and the other in taking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-fry/the-difference-between-self-love-and-being-in-love-with-yourself-is/) [Jeffrey Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-fry/) > [Where there is giving there must be taking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/where-there-is-giving-there-must-be-taking/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [I have come to believe that giving and receiving are really the same. Giving and receiving - not giving and taking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-grenfell/i-have-come-to-believe-that-giving-and-receiving-are-really-the-same/) [Joyce Grenfell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-grenfell/) > [“If you´re giving more than you´re taking, you´re building legacy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/if-you-re-giving-more-than-you-re-taking-you-re-building-legacy/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [Something you can give and receive, a thing you can share, something people enjoy, give up? It's love. Always there for the giving, always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepsicle/something-you-can-give-and-receive-a-thing-you-can-share-something/) Pepsicle > [“Giving and taking comfort in everything they could give and take, every part of them sought to make themselves one till it was impossible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-koenig/giving-and-taking-comfort-in-everything-they-could-give-and-take/) [Laird Koenig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-koenig/) > [It's not right for one friend to do all the giving and the other to do all the taking, that it not friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-not-right-for-one-friend-to-do-all-the-giving-and-the-other-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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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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 Ancient quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. 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It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-must-speak-english-who-can-write-sanskrit-they-must-speak-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [All the stories I have told you are finally as useless as all ancient knowledge is to man and to us. Its images and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/all-the-stories-i-have-told-you-are-finally-as-useless-as-all-ancient/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [So what if I'm ninety-three? So what if I'm ancient and cranky and my body's a wreck? 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