Ruling is hard. This was maybe my answer to Tolkien, whom, as much as I admire him, I do quibble with. Lord of the Rings had a very medieval philosophy: that if the king was a good man, the land would prosper. We look at real history and it's not that simple... Real-life kings had real-life problems to deal with... My people who are trying to rule don't have an easy time of it. Just having good intentions doesn't make you a wise king.
George R. R. MartinWhat was it Catelyn Stark had called them, that night at Bitterbridge? The knights of summer. And now it was autumn and they were falling like leaves.
George R. R. MartinIt was astonishing to see how angry Cersei could wax over accusations she knew perfectly well to be true.
George R. R. MartinIt was the easiest thing in the world for Arya to step up behind him and stab him. โIs there gold hidden in the village?โ she shouted as she drove the blade up through his back. โIs there silver? Gems?โ She stabbed twice more. โIs there food? Where is Lord Beric?โ She was on top of him by then, still stabbing. โWhere did he go? How many men were with him? How many knights? How many bowmen? How many, how many, how many, how many, how many, how many? is there gold in the village?
George R. R. Martin