Previous
Baron Vladimir Harkonnen
Duke Leto’s personal Master of Assassins and Mentat, which is an individual trained to calculate information at a much greater speed and capacity than other humans. Hawat is well-known as one of the Imperium’s most impressive Mentats. He is the Duke’s main strategist and prides himself on having loyally served the Atreides family for three generations. Hawat trains Paul Atreides in strategy and tactics throughout Paul’s childhood. He is on high alert when House Atreides moves to Arrakis, as he knows there will be likely attacks on his commander. Despite this vigilance, the elderly Mentat makes several key mistakes leading up to the Harkonnen attack on Arrakeen. It is likely his pride in his abilities that blinded him to some of the threats aimed at the Duke. Falsely believing that Paul has died in the attack along with Duke Leto, Hawat is devastated and angry. The Baron Harkonnen deceives him into working for the Harkonnens, where the Mentat tries unsuccessfully to bring the House down from within. For a long time Hawat believes that Lady Jessica betrayed her Duke and dedicates his life to getting vengeance on her. He is ashamed to learn that this is untrue, merely one of the Baron’s ploys to destroy the Duke by causing a rift with his concubine. Paul forgives Hawat’s mistakes before the Mentat dies, with Hawat demonstrating ultimate Atreides loyalty when he chooses death rather than assassinating Paul as the Baron has instructed.
Thufir Hawat Quotes in Dune
The Dune quotes below are all either spoken by Thufir Hawat or refer to Thufir Hawat. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Book 1, Part 9
Quotes
Muad’Dib learned rapidly because his first training was in how to learn. And the first lesson of all was the basic trust that he could learn. It’s shocking to find how many people do not believe they can learn, and how many more believe learning to be difficult. Muad’Dib knew that every experience carries its lesson.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 1, Part 22
Quotes
People are the true strength of a Great House, Paul thought. And he remembered Hawat’s words: “Parting with people is a sadness; a place is only a place.”
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 2, Part 2
Quotes
“We will treat your comrade with the same reverence we treat our own,” the Fremen said. “This is the bond of water. We know the rites. A man’s flesh is his own; the water belongs to the tribe.”
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 2, Part 11
Quotes
“When your opponent fears you, then’s the moment when you give the fear its own rein, give it the time to work on him. Let it become terror. The terrified man fights himself. Eventually, he attacks in desperation. That is the most dangerous moment, but the terrified man can be trusted usually to make a fatal mistake. You are being trained here to detect these mistakes and use them.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Dune LitChart as a printable PDF.
Thufir Hawat Quotes in Dune
The Dune quotes below are all either spoken by Thufir Hawat or refer to Thufir Hawat. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Book 1, Part 9
Quotes
Muad’Dib learned rapidly because his first training was in how to learn. And the first lesson of all was the basic trust that he could learn. It’s shocking to find how many people do not believe they can learn, and how many more believe learning to be difficult. Muad’Dib knew that every experience carries its lesson.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 1, Part 22
Quotes
People are the true strength of a Great House, Paul thought. And he remembered Hawat’s words: “Parting with people is a sadness; a place is only a place.”
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 2, Part 2
Quotes
“We will treat your comrade with the same reverence we treat our own,” the Fremen said. “This is the bond of water. We know the rites. A man’s flesh is his own; the water belongs to the tribe.”
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 2, Part 11
Quotes
“When your opponent fears you, then’s the moment when you give the fear its own rein, give it the time to work on him. Let it become terror. The terrified man fights himself. Eventually, he attacks in desperation. That is the most dangerous moment, but the terrified man can be trusted usually to make a fatal mistake. You are being trained here to detect these mistakes and use them.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
