Quotes from Eric Thomson

I tend to agree with the guy who said diplomacy is the art of saying 'nice doggie' until you can find a rock.

Problems accumulate over a long time while few see what's happening, except the assholes who profit from the disorder. And they add fuel to the fire so gradually no one notices the decline until suddenly everything goes to shit. Then, people die. In job lots.

But the moral balance sheet calculated in the safety of a sterile operations room meant absolutely nothing in front of a man who'd gone through the worst sort of hell because of one cold-blooded decision.

people sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men and women stand ready to do violence on their behalf.

People who are afraid will do anything to ease their terror, such as forcing elected officials to negotiate with radical groups.

Reality doesn't care about anyone's moods,

an idiot with delusions of military adequacy, but I expected better from the Guards. Not much, but a little.

Empires, especially those born in violence, lived in violence.

Statistically, half of all humans are below median intelligence and easily led astray by the ten percent who combine above average intelligence with a defective sense of ethics.

Why is it I think you're lying, Brigid?" "Because you spent your entire life surrounded by liars and can't fathom the concept of honesty? Or honor and integrity. Or any other attribute of a good officer.