Jack Vance - The Dragon Masters (1962)

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Since we are not permitted to act, we are obliged to know.

Jack Vance
You will understand, said the Weaponeer, that a pattern for events exists. It is the function of such as myself to shape events so that they will fit the pattern. He bent, with a graceful sweep of arm, and seized a small jagged pebble. Just as I can grind this bit of rock to fit a round aperture.
Kergan Banbeck reached forward, took the pebble, tossed it high over the tumbled boulders. That bit of rock you shall never shape to fit a round hole.
The Weaponeer shook his head in mild deprecation. There is always more rock.
And there are always more holes, declared Kergan Banbeck.

Jack Vance
If there were no such creatures as minstrel-maidens, it would be necessary to invent them.

Jack Vance
Kergan Banbeck threw up his hands, turned once more to the sacerdote. How can I halt his nonsense? How can I make him see reason?
The sacerdote reflected. He speaks not nonsense, but rather a language you fail to understand. You can make him understand your language by erasing all knowledge and training from his mind, and replacing it with patterns of your own.

Jack Vance
It sees that you are wrong, that you are guided by faith indeed.
The Demie fell silent. His face seemed to stiffen.
Are these not facts? asked Joaz. How do you reconcile them with your faith?
The Demie said mildly, Facts can never be reconciled with faith.

Jack Vance
How to know, oh how to know! All is relative ease and facility in orthodoxy, yet how can it be denied that good is in itself undeniable? Absolutes are the most uncertain of all formulations, while the uncertainties are the most real...

Jack Vance