The old woman was a witch shadow — hair like matted spiderwebs, hooded ’round darkness of features, eyes like glittering jewels. - Frank Herbert

They’re trained to believe, not to know. Belief can be manipulated. Only knowledge is dangerous.

You don't write for success. That takes part of your attention away from the writing. If you're really doing it, that's all you're doing: writing.

Religion began as a female monopoly, wrested from them only after its social power became too dominant. Women were the first medical researchers and practitioners. There has never been any clear balance between the sexes because power goes with certain roles as it certainly goes with knowledge.