Quotables II
He has a mind of metal, and wheels.
Of course he does. He's a difference engine.
overheard early in the Era of Steel and Steam
If there is to be a rapprochement between us and the Republic – and such a thing is, I think we must all concede, profoundly to be desired – I can think of no better basis than this: that they, like we, are a civilization that holds principle above expedience.
Talaïs Oravedra, Imperial Diplomatic Corps
The purpose of your 'schools', as we have come to understand it, is not to inculcate education but rather to inculcate submission, and we do not find that a desirable quality for our citizen-shareholders.
Iríäne Estenet, Office of the Libraries¹
Trillions of sophonts across the galaxy study the Empire's "politics" with intense eagerness and fascination. Unfortunately, perhaps a dozen go on to understand them.
Olbria Amanyr, Privy Council
There are those who ask us why we named our prototype ontopathic weapon "the World-Breaker's Hand". Clearly these people have never tried to pitch "the World-Breaker's Pointer Finger" to a focus group.
Torst mor-Valírek, Irreality Vault
I love fighting people who refer to their military forces as "warriors". Nothing builds confidence quite like the enemy describing themselves in the same terms as the people the Legions have been stomping into the mud for the last eight thousand years.
Machegos Rékis mor-Parek, the 122nd "Dune Marchers" Imperial Legion
The notable ethicist, Ondar Sjarra, once claimed that since Entropy could only corrupt and not create, there must logically be an element of virtue, however hidden, within any ethical philosophy no matter how defective.
Upon being challenged to apply this principle to the Pragmatist scholae, he thought for a moment and responded that while it required no virtue to commit an act of base treachery, to declare one's renown in that field and yet show one's face to the world did require a certain degree of reckless courage.
"The Rectification of the Philosophers", Imril Tarquelios
I was once challenged by a man who claimed that adventurers were no more than people who sought out a lawful way to raise mayhem, kill people, and take their stuff.
I thought for a moment, and asked him if he would prefer that they do it unlawfully.
To this, he had no answer.
"One Hundred and Forty Five Years a Wanderer", Jádis Tsurilen
- The Office of the Libraries - under the Ministry of Ancestral Heritage, itself under the Ministry of Progress and Prosperity - is as close as the Empire has to a Ministry or Department of Education, inasmuch as its education system runs on the notion that making sure knowledge is available to all may not be the whole of the thing, but it's close enough for government work.