It had been suggested to her that the flaw lay not in the universe but in herself. - Jack Vance

“Our ancient creed is correct. Rather than submitting to change we must divert the influences which conduce in such a direction.”
Ramus Imph listened with patient good humor. “The remarks of the sagacious Servant are persuasive, even though they fail to correspond with reality.”

Cease the bickering! I am indulging the exotic whims of a beautiful princess and must not be distracted.

We’ll rack our brains and either solve your problem or come up come up with new and better ones.