Ender's Game (Ender's Saga, #1)

by Orson Scott Card

great military leader imposes his will on his enemy, and makes his own army a willing extension of himself.

“I taught you everything you know. But I didn’t teach you everything I know.”

And Ender liked having the announcement of the extra fifteen minutes come from the toon leaders. Let the boys learn that leniency comes from their toon leaders, and harshness from their commander—it will bind them better in the small, tight knots of this fabric.

Nature can’t evolve a species that hasn’t a will to survive. Individuals might be bred to sacrifice themselves, but the race as a whole can never decide to cease to exist.

Humanity does not ask us to be happy. It merely asks us to be brilliant on its behalf. Survival first, then happiness as we can manage it.