[Ads-l] Catchphrase: The spice must flow

[Bill Mullins]

2011 Houston Chronicle 2 Feb F3/3
The Spice Must Flow
[subhead to an article about Indian cooking, with no reference to Dune]
https://www.newspapers.com/image/1198088912/?match=1&terms=%22spice%20must%20flow%22




---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: ADSGarson O'Toole <00001aa1be50b751-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu<mailto:00001aa1be50b751-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu>>
Date: Wed, Sep 16, 2026 at 11:58 AM
Subject: Catchphrase: The spice must flow
To: <ADS-L at listserv.uga.edu<mailto:ADS-L at listserv.uga.edu>>


When Jesse mentioned "spice" in Dune it reminded me of the
catchphrase, "The spice must flow". Apparently, this catchphrase
originated with the 1984 movie version of "Dune" and not the 1965
book. I have not verified this.

Here is a chronologically ordered sampling of xtweets using the phrase
(beyond Dune).

https://x.com/davemcclure/status/1599952065
Dave McClure @davemcclure
Today, feel Lifeblood of Silicon Valley PULSE thru my veins like Fire,
Heartbeat POUND like Thunder my ears. The SPICE must FLOW, moFO!
9:59 PM · Apr 23, 2009

https://x.com/monicabyrne13/status/446836580779843584
Monica Byrne @monicabyrne13
definitely yell "the spice must flow" when baggage starts dropping
onto the carousel #traveltips
10:31 PM · Mar 20, 2014 from Durham, NC

https://x.com/tremolo_/status/463799122978283521
erin @tremolo_
"The spice must flow" I mutter repeatedly during a particularly
difficult visit to the toilet.
5:55 PM, May 6, 2014

https://x.com/skullmandible/status/646675664813211648
Cohen is a ghost @skullmandible
the uh, the pumpkin, uh. *sighs deeply, whispers "this is so fucking
empty, what have I become"* the pumpkin spice must flow
9:21 AM, Sep 23, 2015

https://x.com/Plinz/status/1325179514020720642
Joscha Bach @Plinz
Yes, I think the stability of a financial system requires to take
money out at the top and put new money in at the bottom. The spice
must flow
3:53 PM, Nov 7, 2020

https://x.com/SchadenJake/status/1459029978713137156
Dr. Jacob Dean @SchadenJake
Not a joke: our newly hired financial advisor told me I need to spend
less money on spices
12:27 AM, Nov 12, 2021
https://x.com/SchadenJake/status/1459030200499462145
Dr. Jacob Dean @SchadenJake
It took every ounce of my energy not to tell her that the spice must flow
12:28 AM, Nov 12, 2021

https://x.com/SciGuySpace/status/1498755638473764868
Eric Berger @SciGuySpace
In writing this story I remembered the truly bonkers fact that
Congress told NASA it had to continue using cost-plus contracts for
Orion even after it moved into operational production. The spice must
flow, and all that.
3:22 PM, Mar 1, 2022

https://x.com/WallStreetMav/status/1818345821785489675?s=20
Wall Street Mav @WallStreetMav
The spice must flow ...
The USA wants more oil being exported out of Venezuela to the USA, so
that Biden/Harris can pretend to be green without gasoline prices
going thru the roof. That is why Maduro had to be ousted by the CIA.
2:00 PM · Jul 30, 2024

Garson

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org