Use of Weapons (Culture, #3)

by Iain M. Banks

“So is learning how to write, and to work with numbers. Proficiency in those skills will not make you clerks any more than working with iron will make you blacksmiths.”

Sma smiled. “Just think fields, Cheradenine. It’s all done with force fields.”

“when you clean a table you clean a table. You feel you’ve done something. It’s an achievement.”

“Well, I have stopped offering to pay for things in bars.” “That’s a start.” “It was a very easy habit to break.” “Par for the course. That all?”