I merely observe that all living things are manipulated. As long as there is a will, it is bent and twisted constantly. Only the dead are allowed the luxury of freedom, and then only because they want nothing, and therefore can't be thwarted.

When have you ever seen someone who had no doubts who was also correct about anything?

It's easy to manipulate your children when they're absolutely sure you're stupid.

I'm right here. This is who I really am. I'm not pretending.

Your ego-depletion seems problematically difficult to assuage.

because if you can’t kill then you are always subject to those who can, and nothing and no one will ever save you.

At first he thought he felt bad because he was afraid of leading an army, but it wasn't true. He knew he'd make a good commander. He felt himself wanting to cry. He hadn't cried since the first few days of homesickness after he got here. He tried to put a name on the feeling that put a lump in his throat and made him sob silently, however much he tried to hold it down. He bit down on his hand to stop the feeling, to replace it with pain. It didn't help.