If power was an illusion, wasn't weakness necessarily one also? - Lois McMaster Bujold

Yani seemed a time-traveler who had found out the hard way that he did not like his destination any better than his point of departure, failed to notice the one common factor was himself, and now could not go back.

All the worry people expend over not existing after they die, yet nary a one ever seems to spare a moment to worry about not having existed before they were conceived. Or at all. After all, one sperm over and we would have been our sisters, and we'd never have been missed.

“Ensign Vorkosigan,” Illyan sighed. It seems you still have a little problem with subordination.”
“I know, sir. I’m sorry.”
“Do you ever intend to do anything about it besides feel sorry?”
“I can’t help it, sir, if people give me the wrong orders.”