Arrakis teaches the attitude of the knife....

"Arrakis teaches the attitude of the knife—chopping off what's incomplete and saying: "Now, it's complete because it's ended here."

— From "Collected Sayings of Muad'dib"
By the Princess Irulan

This pre-chapter quote from Dune is perhaps my favorite quote from the whole series. From the moment I first read it, I found myself repeating it obsessively. To me, this quote perfectly embodies the aspect of Fremen culture that I find so beautiful—their finality.

Living in the harsh conditions of Arrakis, the Fremen had to be decisive to survive. Survival in the desert is not easy, and their stoic nature about life and death is often misunderstood by offworlders who find it frustrating to navigate around. Take this interaction between Thuffir Hawat and a Fremen scout sent to find them after the Siege of Arrakeen.

“Do you wish to go to the smugglers?” the Fremen asked.
“Is it possible?”
“The way is long.”
“Fremen don’t like to say no, ” Idaho had told him once.
Hawat said: “You haven’t yet told me whether your people can help my wounded.”
“They are wounded.” The same damned answer every time!
“We know they’re wounded!” Hawat snapped.
—Excerpt from Dune by Frank Herbert

This passage shows the Fremen's roundabout way of thinking. Idaho's remark on how the Fremen "don't like to say no" is a nod to their discerning culture. Instead of outright denying whether or not it is possible to get to the smugglers, the Fremen says that the way will be long for Thuffir and his men because many of them are wounded, to Fremen this journey is not impossible, but it may be for most of Thuffir's men. When Thuffir asks whether the Fremen can help his wounded, he simply answers, "They are wounded." We know that the Fremen means that, with no stillsuits, no water, and no hope of reinforcements, the wounded men are as good as dead.

“What do your wounded say? Are there those among them who can see the water need of your tribe?” “We haven’t talked about water,” Hawat said. “We—”
“I can understand your reluctance,” the Fremen said. “They are your friends, your tribesmen. Do you have water?”
“Not enough.” The Fremen gestured to Hawat’s tunic, the skin exposed beneath it.
“You were caught in-sietch, without your suits. You must make a water decision, friend.”

Other Fremen would only need to see the wounded men and know that a life and death decision, a water decision, needs to be made.

“How many of your wounded would you spend?”
Hawat fell silent, staring at the man. He could see as a Mentat that their communication was out of phase. Word-sounds were not being linked up here in the normal manner.

It is here that Thuffir realizes their differences in culture and communication. The normal Mentat reasoning that served him faithfully with the Atreides was no longer useful amongst the Fremen's cutthroat way of life.

I find myself thinking about this pre-chapter quote a lot and how adopting the attitude of the knife into my own life serves me. The Fremen attitude and way of thinking the most inspiring addition to my life from the Dune series. I am someone who does not like change or ending things like decisions abruptly when they might otherwise be stretched out and agonized over from every angle. So, whenever I need to hurry up and make a tough decision I think, what would the Fremen do?

Dutifully yours,
Mother Superior