Ann Leckie

You never knelt to get anywhere. You are where you are because you're fucking capable, and willing to risk everything to do right, and I'll never be half what you are even if I tried my whole life, and I was walking around thinking I was better than you, even half dead and no use to anyone, because my family is old, because I was born better.

You are so civilized. So polite. So brave coming here alone when you know no one here would dare to touch you. So easy to be all those things, when all the power is on your side.

You take what you want at the end of a gun, you murder and rape and steal, and you call it bringing civilization. And what is civilization, to you, but us being properly grateful to be murdered and raped and stolen from? You said you knew justice when you heard it. Well, what is your justice but you allowed to treat us as you like, and us condemned for even attempting to defend ourselves?

Do you still think Mianaai controls the Radchaai through brainwashing or threats of execution? Those are there, they exist, yes, but most Radchaai, like people most places I have been, do what they__e supposed to because they believe it__ the right thing to do. No one likes killing people.__trigan made a sardonic noise "No one?""Not many," I amended. "Not enough to fill the Radch's warships".

What, after all, was the point of civilization if not the well-being of citizens?

If that__ what you__e willing to do for someone you hate, what would you do for someone you love?

Ships have feelings.

I__e been thinking about it, since you said it,_ said Seivarden. No, said Mercy of Kalr. __nd I__e concluded that I don__ want to be a captain. But I find I like the thought that I could be.