They looked happy as zealots who’d just found a heathen to burn, Veppers thought. That was a little worrying. - Iain Banks

I have buffed and polished my medals for decades of steady, dedicated watchfulness," the marshal continued, clasping her hands behind her head as she leaned back and relaxed, legs crossed, "counted and re-counted my medals for outstanding work in simulations and exercises, carefully rearranged my medals for heroic bravery under virtual fire, and even found room for my many, many medals for exemplary valour in the face of fellow officers coveting the same promotions as I.

Did you know that true subjective time is measured in the minimum duration of demonstrably separate thoughts?

That’s the trouble with people like them, I suppose; whenever you think you’re detecting the first signs of them starting to behave responsibly, it’s just them being even more devious and underhand than usual.