The Left Hand of Darkness (Hainish Cycle, #4)

by Ursula K. Le Guin

The Ekumen is not a kingdom, but a co-ordinator, a clearinghouse for trade and knowledge; without it communication between the worlds of men would be haphazard, and trade very risky, as you can see.

A man can trust his luck, but a society can’t; and cultural change, like random mutation, may make things chancier.

To oppose vulgarity is inevitably to be vulgar.