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“Sometimes, one must become a master to avoid becoming a slave,”
The males of some species fought each other, mindlessly possessive of territory or females. She could remember being bullied as a female animal, being pursued by persistent males, but only in her true woman-shape could she remember being seriously hurt by males—men.
Civilization is the way one’s own people live. Savagery is the way foreigners live.”
Short-lived people, people who could die, did not know what enemies loneliness and boredom could be.
Habits were difficult to break. The habit of living, the habit of fear … even the habit of love.
“You are many times as old as I am. You must have some inborn defect to keep you from getting wisdom to go with your years.”
“I only allow them to be children for as long as they will,” she said. “They will grow up and learn of sorrow and evil quickly enough.”
Teach them responsibility, pride, honor. Teach them whatever you taught Stephen. But don’t be foolish enough to teach them you believe they’ll grow up to be criminals. They’ll be powerful men someday and they’re liable to fulfill your expectations—either way.”
The loneliness formed a kinship between them.
