It's time to abandon the plans of the entity that enslaved me all these centuries, he said. And time to start making my own. - Karl Schroeder

She started threatening the stability of the ruling classes, at least in their own eyes. No ruler who does that ever stands for long.

The richest billionaire has to realize that the gods next door take no more notice of him than he would a bug.

So why did you do it?
August stared at the ceiling pensively. "It gets easier to risk your life as you get older. I think women understand that when they have children. Suddenly they know they would give their life for their child, and it doesn't bother them. With men it's different, but we…trade our allegiance in the same way. At some point, if you've grown up at all, you have to decide that something outside yourself is more important than you are. Otherwise you'll be a miserable bastard, and you'll die screaming." He closed one eye and peered at Jordan. "That make sense?"
"I don't know," Jordan said uncomfortably.
"You get perspective. You can stand outside your own death, a little. Not while you're dying, though."