Dune. Fear Is The Mind-Killer. How Dune Changed My Life

If this video seems at all familiar, it's because this is a remake from a previous video on an old channel of mine. With the new Dune trailer, I thought it was the perfect time to revisit this essay with new footage and an updated script.

Transcript excerpts:
With the recent release of the new trailer for Dune, which is based on Frank Herbert’s classic science-fiction novel, I’ve been reflecting more and more on the impact that Dune has had on my life.

While it’s not very often that I can say that a novel has impacted me on a personal level, Dune is easily one of the few books that come to mind when I think of a piece of literature that has directly and positively altered my mindset and course of thinking.

Genuinely, I can say that Dune has improved my life. While I can’t remember every story detail or plot point of the story, Dune has always stuck with me and will continue to do so for the rest of my life.

### The Litany Against Fear

So, what was it about Dune that made it so impactful to generations of readers? To me, the first thing that I draw on from Dune is not in any way unique, as fans the world over have latched onto a particular prayer or litany found in Dune’s pages.

This phrase is revered by Dune fans the world over because of its powerful mental call to action against the unknown. It is known as *The* *Litany Against Fear*, and it goes as follows:

"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 it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."

This fictional litany stood out to me in a profound way as a young man. I’m not a neurologist, but it makes sense to me that every time we let fear take control of our minds, we’re losing a battle against ourselves and against our own self-interest. Fear, unchecked, can negatively impact how our brain functions, both in the present and the future.

That is why fear is the mind-killer because if not challenged, it is much like a virus.

The Litany Against Fear does not say that it’s wrong to *experience* fear, but that we have to acknowledge fear for what it is. Fear is meant to make us stop and evaluate our circumstances when a threat is presented. However, if permitted, fear can also prevent us from doing the bold or right thing that may very well be the action that enriches our lives. Fear is meant to protect against danger, and yet, doing dangerous things often leads to even greater happiness and success.

That is why acknowledging your fear but not succumbing to it is essential.

One thing about fear is that our minds often gets things wrong. How often do we experience fear when, in reality, no danger is actually present or real? How often do we experience irrational distress over such benign things such as public speaking or introducing ourselves to strangers, only to find that once we do the thing that we were afraid to do, that the fear was unwarranted?

Fear is the little-death indeed, because for such a small, everyday facet of our daily lives, if not harnessed correctly, it can imprison our thoughts and actions. If we only ever focused on fear, nothing in life would ever be accomplished.

For all the times I’ve been faced with scary decisions in my life—whether it's something as straightforward as quitting a job to go back to school—I still feel an element of fear when faced with such life-altering decisions. That fear makes me not want to do the thing that needs to be done because it’s unknown what the future will bring if I choose that path.

But what fear doesn’t tell us is that the future is always unknown, even when we keep going the way we’ve always gone. There is no way we can remove the element of danger from our lives, so why do we fear change?

Whenever I’m frozen with uncertainty, those words, “Fear is the mind-killer,” have somehow always managed to enter my mind. It has clawed its way into my subconscious and always seems to pop up when I need a reminder that I control the decisions that affect my future, not my fear.

I can’t count how many times in my life I’ve been faced with a fork in the road, and I’ve made the plunge to do the more scary, uncertain thing almost all because of this phrase.

[ElJorro]

This is exactly how I feel about Dune. Thank you for making this. It is exactly what I need right now.

[viceralman]

This essay has changed everything for me. Thanks

[JavierChiappa]

I have learned that one should fight when the necessity arises, mood has nothing to do with it. Also, never sit with your back to the door.
Other awesome thing about dune is how it tries to explain time, in the way that every decision opens up future paths, and that it might be better to not know all the other possible paths, because seeing time is also a curse.

[jeanhibbert]

I’ve had the exact same experience from key messages taken from the book

[RaoGung]

Truthful words never spoken. You have my subscription.

[zeredgy]

Lately i have been paranoid and scared of change, i only stumbled on this litany a couple of days ago but i already know that is will be a very important for my future. I must not fear.

[purevibes]

You're awesome buddy, I wish for you to make it successful in this life and the next :) My mindset is only getting stronger so thanks again bud.

[mattacked]

Beautiful video essay. I only have watched the new Dune adaptation, however, I really wanna start reading the books and gaining more insight on the story and the hidden messages behind Frank Hurberts amazingly influencial science-fiction Novel

[demonmonsterdave]

This is a great video. The quality and content are far beyond most, and equal to the best of this particular style. The fact that views are clearly being purposefully limited must be galling for you. However, at this time it only proves the validity of your points and they try to make you fear that your video isn't very good. They hope you will stop. I'm sure that Herbert was making these points, and I may have missed many.

The litany has power because we know it is true, so we give it that power. It's a form of positive self-control that allows us that one extra option. I have used the litany in real life on multiple occasions, and I'm still here. It gains further value due to the fact we live in a world of constant fear despite all evidence to the contrary. For the Western audience of the books and the movies, fear is often an abstract concept pushed into our minds against our will by the media who directly profit by it, and the government who also profit from it. The only times I've felt genuine fear, and thus needed the litany, were times when the government nor the media knew or cared about me or my fear. Real fear is personal. Mass fear is fake almost always.

Please make a video on "once men made machines in the likeness of a human mind, hoping that it would set them free, but it only allowed other men with machines to enslave them." We all know AI doesn't work or exist, but people still act as if it's infallible and not under the control of other humans. Whatever you do, don't stop. Sincere best wishes.

[actuallybright]

Great commentary on these 2 aspects or lessons from the book/movie. I don't think these lessons could have been expanded upon in any better way. I thought the movie was great and I am reading the book now.

[codranine]

Hey! I just wanted to say thanks for saying things I’ve thought. It’s been many years since I first read Dune. It too had a major impact on my life.

For anyone who has not read it I highly recommend doing so.

[Brooklynbaby]

Just watched it what a masterpiece 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤩🤩🤩

[calin]

Why did you steal armchair Debonairs video's script almost word for word?