I’m not on the side of elephants or people, Goma. I’m on the side against stupidity. - Alastair Reynolds

People lived and died and did strange, pointless things to themselves. So did societies, be they city-sized states or galactic empires encompassing thousands of solar systems. Everything came and went, everything was new and bright with promise once and old and worn out later, and everything left a small, diminishing stain on eternity, a mark that time would eventually erase.

Clavain felt little in the way of regret; more a sense of quiet relief that they were past the negotiating stage and into the infinitely more honest arena of actual battle.

Hopefully they’ll accept me for what I am, not what I was. That’s all we can ever hope for, isn’t it?