The Litany Against Fear originated in the Dune series of books by Frank Herbert. It is spoken by those facing great danger. There is a lot of discussion in the Dune books over humanity’s place in the universe and what it means to be human. In the beginning of the first book, one of the characters goes through a test.
The test will show if someone is truly human, or little more than an animal. A animal, one of the characters says, just reacts on instinct. If you are truly human, you will be able to face your feelings and not let them control you.
Here is the Litany Against Fear in English and Atlaans
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.
Ig muss niet zietheet haben. Zietheet ar de geheern touder. Zietheet ar de kleena toud das bring kompleta sherstoorung. Ig wou meen zietheet begeenen. Ig wou es over mich en doysh mich su passen erlouben. En as es vech fon mich ar, ig wou meen inina oug drienen om esaar vech su sienen. Wo de zietheet war wou niesen zeen. Noor ig wou shurukbleeben.
