Charles E. Gannon Quotes

And here are the wages you must pay in order to climb the political ladder, you foolish sod. You’ve got to do the dirty work that others have ordered. I’ve done it out of dubious patriotism. Let’s see if you’ll do it out of blind ambition.

I do not disagree with you, Bannor Rulaine. But in my culture, when tradition is challenged by law, the law is often twisted, construed, and reconstrued until it can be made to conform with tradition. I believe your word for this is teleology: where a result is decided before the process debate or discovery is initiated.
O'Garran snorted. "Fancy word for saying, 'they're going to have it their way, no matter what.'

I could offer considerable inducements. I can arrange for a new mate who is, in all meaningful measures, superior to the one you are currently pursuing. You look unimpressed. Ah, multiple mates, then? Within reason, I am quite certain I can procure—"
Riordan was careful to keep his interruption calm. "I am not interested in other mates."
"Ah. Well. I am also able to provide you with material riches. I believe your species persists in its obsession with gold? To use your idiom, I would pay you handsomely for any successful breeding activity. Even if you do not wish to stay afterward."
Riordan forced his molars to unclench.
Uinzleej moved on to his next offer. "What else—ah! Many of your species enjoy hunting. This world is full of creatures you may kill for your gratification.

You are a traitor to your own race, servitor.
"No. I am its true servant, because the prerequisite of success is a ruthlessly clear understanding of reality, of the facts with which we must contend. Without that, all plans begin in error, and so, they must end in disaster.

Most of my professors can’t see the wider forest of meaning because they’ve become obsessed with a few mostly meaningless trees.

You’re the military analyst, writer, historian: you, above all people, should know that those who decline to take a hand in controlling events surrender the ability to influence them.

After all, an agent on the inside of a rival organization was always worth more, operationally speaking, than a loyal servitor in one’s own.

In the face of crisis, I will choose unauthorized action over disastrous inaction.

Your conjecture is reasonable but inaccurate.

“You think she’ll make it?”
“She should. Unless something else goes wrong.”
Tsaami’s tone was sour. “Caine: this is a battlefield. Something else always goes wrong.”
To which Riordan had no ready response. After all, Karam was right.

Look: nations screw up like people do; sometimes they mean well, sometimes they’re selfish or delusional bitches on a spree, and sometimes they just plain make mistakes. But the megacorporations don’t make mistakes; if they do damage, it’s because they like the cost-to-benefit ratios, dead innocents notwithstanding. Nations are bulls in the global china shop; corporations are sharks.

And in the time it had taken to reflect upon the significance of the moment, the moment was past. That was, after all, the nature of moments.

“On the surface, it’s crazy, right?”
“It’s crazy down beyond the surface, too,” Dora affirmed.

They are not speculating upon the mysteries behind us, only upon the possibilities before us.

When such leaders act in opposition to their sworn duties, they compound injustice with disgrace.