Adulthood isn't an award they'll give you for being a good child. You can waste years, trying to get someone to give that respect to you, as though it were a sort of promotion or raise in pay. If only you do enough, if only you are good enough. No. You have to just take it. Give it to yourself, I suppose. Say, I'm sorry you feel like that and walk away. But that's hard
Lois McMaster BujoldMost people go through their whole lives without killing anybody. False argument.
Lois McMaster BujoldToo late, he recalled Miles's dictum that the reward for a job well done was usually a harder job.
Lois McMaster BujoldThere was no limit to what one man might do, if he gave all, and held back nothing.
Lois McMaster Bujold[Koudelka] looked back, "You?! I know you! You trust beyond reason!" [Cordelia] met his eyes steadily, "Yes, it's how I get results beyond hope, as you may recall.
Lois McMaster BujoldThis is important! But you have to stay absolutely cool. I may be completely off-base, and panicking prematurely." "I don't think so. I think you're panicking post-maturely. In fact, if you were panicking any later it would be practically posthumously. I've been panicking for days.
Lois McMaster Bujold