In good times, pessimism is a luxury; but in bad times, pessimism is a self-fulfilling and fatal prophecy. - David Brin

All legends must be based on lies, Gordon realized. We exaggerate, and even come to believe the tales, after a while.

It's said that 'power corrupts,' but actually it's more true that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power. When they do act, they think of it as service, which has limits. The tyrant, though, seeks mastery, for which he is insatiable, implacable.

He managed to lie by implication while speaking words that were the literal truth, a skill he had grown good at, if not proud of.