“He knew in his heart that there was a relief in not being listened to, sometimes. Power meant responsibility. Advice unacted upon almost always might have been right, and in the working out of whatever plan was followed, there was anyway always blood; better it was on their hands. The good soldier did as he was told, and if he had any sense at all volunteered for nothing, especially promotion.”

Source: Culture series, Use of Weapons (1990), Chapter XII (p. 65).

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Iain Banks139

Scottish writer 1954–2013

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