Sandy

“The surroundings contrasted wildly with the tedium of the occasion. The ballroom’s crystalline chandeliers hovered like glittering clouds and bolts of red velvet lined the walls. Altogether, it instilled a distinctly regal aura. Convening the monthly briefing here was akin to eating borscht and dumplings at the Grand Palace. Yet as with all of Yermilov’s directives, it was done with a purpose. As kings and emperors had recognized for millennia, the trappings of wealth were not for the pleasure of the regent—they were a blunt demonstration of power.”
― Ward Larsen, Tom Clancy Rules of Engagement

“He couldn’t help thinking of cities he’d visited, back on Earth, where fantastic levels of wealth contrasted sharply with the most grinding poverty.  Everywhere he looked, he saw the signs.  Belos might be a rich world, but the population was poor.”
― Christopher G. Nuttall, The Firelighters

“I said, “We have to play the good guy and supply them with what they need to survive. How stupid they are with what they have, you cannot idiot-proof anything; they keep coming up with new and improved idiots.”
― David Collins, The Eighth Artifact

“There is a difference between knowing the path you must walk, and how exactly to place your feet along every step of the way.”
― J.N. Chaney, Point of Impact