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Once, thousands of years ago, families had been just that: groups of people bound by blood and marriage and closed to everyone else. But the inherent limitations of such a system had led to decline and stratification, and some of the patriarchs had begun experimenting with methods for absorbing outsiders that didn’t involve marriage. The result had been the current system, where likely prospects could be brought in as merit adoptives, with those who proved themselves especially worthy rising to Trial-born and possibly even ranking distant.
“But while all of us face a variety of paths, we all have the power to choose among them,” he continued. “You have that power as well, the power to choose which of those paths is the right one for you.”
“Don’t worry, Captain. I’ve had the protocols concerning preemptive attacks carefully and specifically laid out for me.”
is.” He pointed down a hallway. “The history of the Ascendancy is in these rooms, some of the pieces dating back to Chiss participation in the wars between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire.”
“A lesson for all of us. In moments of stress or uncertainty, we tend to fall back on the familiar and comfortable.”
negative information was still information.
“Intent and motivations are irrelevant,” Thrawn said. “Judgment can focus only on actions.”
The key to a satisfying life is to accept those things that cannot be changed, and make a positive difference with those that can.”
“His chief failing is a lack of curiosity.” “I’d have said no imagination.” “All beings possess imagination to varying degrees,” Thrawn said. “It can be encouraged and nurtured, or can sometimes shine out in moments of stress. But curiosity is a choice. Some wish to have it. Others don’t.
I wish answers of right and wrong, of order and chaos, of strength and weakness, of purpose and reaction.”
“The cautious path merely guarantees a slow slide to irrelevance. The Mitth must take risks—calculated and well planned, but risks nonetheless—if we’re to maintain our position among the Ruling Families.”
