So why are we bothering?" "Just in case." "Just in case what?" "Just in case it turns out to be something we should have bothered about. Always try t… - Iain Banks

Oh. I didn't realise."
"Then you're simply ignorant rather than malevolent. Congratulations.

Even though we thought ourselves by now inured to the thoroughly reckless nature of our opponents, we have been profoundly shocked and disappointed to discover the completely irresponsible and utterly senseless depths—or should I say heights?"—the ambassadorial emissary showed his teeth and glanced around his appropriately appreciative team—"to which our previously at least ostensibly esteemed adversaries have been prepared to stoop to in their understandably increasingly desperate attempts to secure a victory in this outrageously prosecuted, thoroughly unfortunate and—on our part—wholly unprovoked dispute.

We only become beasts—we become worse than beasts—when we torment others.