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The fundamental principle was clear: the spirit was to be preferred over the letter, truth over technicalities. Precedent was held subordinate to the judgment of the man on the spot. Alas, the man on the spot was himself. There was no refuge for him in automated rules, no hiding behind the law says as if the law were some living overlord with a real Voice. The only voice here was his own.

— Lois McMaster Bujold The Mountains of Mourning (1989)

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More quotes by Lois McMaster Bujold

One learns better than to hand one's choices to fear. With age, with every wound and scar, one learns.

Paladin of Souls (2003)

I for one find a casual destruction of a man's life even more repugnant than a determined one.

The Curse of Chalion (2000)

If it ever came down to exerting power by force, it would mean I’d already lost it.

Shards of Honor (1986)

If you make it plain you like people, it’s hard for them to resist liking you back.

Diplomatic Immunity (2002)

Women do desperately need models for power other than the maternal.

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Lois McMaster Bujold (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.