Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

“It is said that one should keep one's allies within view, and one's enemies within reach.
A valid statement. One must be able to read an ally's strengths, so as to determine how to best use them. One must similarly be able to read his enemy's weaknesses, so as to determine how to best defeat him.
But what of friends?
There is no accepted answer, perhaps true friendship is so exceedingly rare. But I had formulated my own.
A friend need not be kept within sight or within reach. A friend must be allowed the freedom to find and follow his own path. If one is fortunate, those paths will for a time join. But if paths separate, it is comforting to know that a friend still graces the universe with his skills, and his viewpoint, and his present. For if one is remembered by a friend, one is never truly gone.”
― Timothy Zahn, Thrawn

“All people have regrets. Warriors are no exceptions.
One would hope it was possible to distinguish between events caused by one's carelessness or lack of ability and those caused by circumstances or forces beyond a one's control. But in practice, there is no difference. All forms of regret sear equally into the mind and soul. All forms leave scars of equal bitterness.
And always, beneath the scar, lurks the thought and fear that there was something else that could have been done. Some action, or inaction, that would have changed things for the better. Such questions can sometimes be learned form. All to often, they merely add to the scar tissue.
A warrior must learn to set those regrets aside as best he can. Knowing full well that they will never be far away.”
― Timothy Zahn, Thrawn

“One may learn a great deal of a people by the stories they tell of others.”
― Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Thrawn

“Thrawn shrugged. "There are two ways to destroy a person, Jorj. Kill him, or ruin his reputation.”
― Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Choices of One

“An enemy will almost never be anything except an enemy. All one can do with an enemy is defeat him. But and adversary can sometimes become an ally.
There is a cost, of course. In all things in life there is a cost. In dealing with an adversary, sometimes the cost paid in power or position.
Sometimes the cost is greater. Sometimes the risk is one's future, or even one's life.
But in all such situations, the calculation is straightforward: whether or not the potential gain is worth the potential loss.
And the warrior must never forget that he and his adversary are not the only ones in that equation. Sometimes, all the universe may hang in the balance.”
― Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Thrawn

“All strive for victory. But not all understand what it truly is. To a soldier or pilot on the line, victory is surviving the current battle. To a politician, victory is an advantage one can bring to a bargaining table. To a warrior, victory is driving an enemy from the field of battle, or bringing him to surrender.
Sometimes victory is greater than the warrior could ever hope for.
Sometimes it is more than he is able to hear.”
― Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Thrawn

“People of authority love capes.”
― Timothy Zahn, Thrawn: Treason

“There are times in every commander's life when he must yield the stick of authority to a subordinate.
Sometimes the reason is one of expertise, when the subordinate has skills the commander lacks. Sometimes it is positional, when the subordinate is in the right place at the right and the commander is not. Often it is anticipated there will be loss of direct communication, which means the subordinate may be given general instructions but must then carry them out on his own initiative as the situation flows around him.
No commander enjoys those moments. Most subordinates fear them, as well. Those who do no fear already betray the overconfidence that nearly always leads to disaster.
But the moments must be faced. And all will learn from them, whether to satisfaction or to sorrow.”
― Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Thrawn

“The past is the past," Vader said. "The present and future are all that matter.”
― Timothy Zahn, Thrawn: Alliances

“One may learn a great deal about a people by the stories they tell of others.”
― Timothy Zahn, STAR WARS - Thrawn

“It is believed by many that the military life is one of adventure and excitement. In truth, that life more often consists of long periods of routine, even boredom, with only brief intervals of challenge and danger.
Enemies seldom seek out their opponents. The warrior must become a hunter, searching and stalking with craft and patience. Successes are often achieved by a confluence of small things: stray facts, unwary or overheard conversations, logistical vectors. If the hunter is persistent, the pattern will become visible, and the enemy will be found. Only then will the routine be broken by combat.
It's not supervising, therefore, that those seeking sometimes weary of long and arduous pursuits. They are relieved when the enemy appears of his own accord, standing firm and issuing a challenge.”
― Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Thrawn

“Each person has goals. Some goals are open, visible to all who care to observe. Others are more private, shared only with one's closest friends or associates.
Some are dark secrets that one hopes will never see the light of day. But eventually, inevitably, those deepest goals must be made manifest if they are to be reached. They must be opened for someone to hear, or see, or offer assistance.
Everyone who brings those goals into the light must be prepared for either acceptance or rejection. And he must be ready to bear the consequence.
All of them.”
― Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Thrawn

“For a long moment, they stood together in silence. Vader thought about his secret... about Thrawn's loyalty... about the Emperor's continued need for him. Perhaps the entire Empire's need for him... "Anakin Skywalker is dead," he said.

Thrawn lowered his head. "I know."

Vader nodded slowly. *I know.* Not *So I have heard.* Not *So I was informed.* But *I know.* "We will not speak of him again," he said. "*You* will not speak of him again."

"I understand, my lord," Thrawn said. "But I will always honor his legacy.”
― Timothy Zahn, Thrawn: Alliances

“You served too long under Lord Vader, Captain. I Have no qualms about accepting a useful idea merely because it wasn't my own. My position and ego are not at stake here.”
― Timothy Zahn, Heir to the Empire

“The soldier in the field and the crew member aboard a warship inevitably see a war from a limited perspective. Their goal is to carry out their mission or their appointed task, and trust that their commanders are aware of the larger situation and the vast matrix of facts, positions, options, and dangers. Leadership is a role and a task that should never be aspired to lightly. Neither should loyalty be given without reason. Even if the primary reason is nothing more than the soldier's oath and duty, a true leader will work to prove worthy of a deeper trust.
But leadership and loyalty are both two-bladed weapons. Each can be twisted from its intended purpose. The consequences are never pleasant.”
― Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Thrawn

“At one time or another, every warrior wishes to have an unconquerable fortress. Such as a fortress is perceived as a refuge, a place of defiance, or a rock upon which enemies can be goaded into smashing themselves to their own destruction.
Politicians, too, yearn for such a fortresses, though they envision them in terms of power and authority instead of stone and weapons and shields. Industrialists wish to be similarly protected against competitors and marauders, while pirates hope for defense against system of authorities. In one way or another, all people wish for ultimate safety.
But ultimately safety does not exist. Those who trust in such will find that hope dashed upon the very rock behind which they seek to hide.”
― Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Thrawn

“Thrawn smiled—a smile that sent a shiver up Pellaeon's back. "Why, the only puzzle worth solving, of course," the Grand Admiral said softly. "The complete, total, and utter destruction of the Rebellion.”
― Timothy Zahn, Heir to the Empire

“Grand Admiral Thrawn could perhaps have breathed the remaining sparks into an Imperial Victory. But Grand Admiral Thrawn was gone.”
― Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Specter of the Past

“Each culture is different. Each species is unique. That presents challenges to the warrior, who often must ascertain from limited clues the strategy, goals, and tactics of an opponent.
But the danger of misreading an opponent is sometimes even greater in politics. There, one seldom has the clearness of weapons activation or troop movement to warn of impending danger. Often, the only indication of conflict is when the battle has already begun.”
― Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Thrawn

“But Mount Tantiss was gone, destroyed by agents of the New Republic and C'baoth's own madness and treason. And Grand Admiral Thrawn was dead.

And the Empire was dying.”
― Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Specter of the Past

“What about you, Commander? Why do *you* seek higher rank?â€�
It was a question many had asked over the years. Thrawn had asked it of himself. The answer never seemed to satisfy the questioner.
‘Because there are problems that must be solved. Some cannot be solved by anyone except me.”
― Timothy Zahn, Thrawn

“All beings begin their lives with hopes and aspirations. Among these aspirations is the desire that there will be a straight path to those goals.
It is seldom so. Perhaps never.”
― Timothy Zahn, Lesser Evil

“A warrior may retreat. He does not flee.
He may lie in ambush. He does not hide.
He may experience victory or defeat. He does not cease to serve.
But a servant with divided loyalties is no servant at all.”
― Timothy Zahn, Thrawn: Treason

“I rule the Empire now. Not some long-dead Emperor; certainly not you. the only treason is defiance of my orders.”
― Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Dark Force Rising

“There are patterns in imperial communications, as there are in everything else. Once the pattern is known, knowledge is easier to obtain.”
― Timothy Zahn, Thrawn

“Your Empire is corrupt, Commander. Corrupt, dangerous, and ultimately self-defeating. It's going to fall anyway. I'm just helping it along.”
― Timothy Zahn, Thrawn

“Trust? Don’t be a fool. There’s no trust in politics. Never has been. Never will be.”
― Jody Houser, Star Wars: Thrawn

“I’m told the role of the Jedi is to serve and defend.â€�
“You were told wrongly,â€� C’baoth countered. “The role of the Jedi is to lead and guide, and to destroy all threats.”
― Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Outbound Flight

“Repression and revolt feed and devour each other.”
― Timothy Zahn, Thrawn

“Enemy forces are down to the crippled frigate and three functioning V-19s,â€� Faro reported. “I assume you’d like us to corral and capture the remaining fighters intact if possible?â€�
“If possible,� Thrawn said. “If not, the Empire will have sufficient prisoners for interrogation among the rest of the survivors.�
“Yes, sir.�
Vanto came up beside him. “Commodore?� he asked, his voice quiet and disturbed. “What are we going to do about the Wookiees?�
“We will leave them here.�
Vanto is silent a moment. “I’m not completely comfortable with the idea that the Empire is using slaves, sir.�
“Terms are not always as they seem, Commander,� Thrawn said. “They are called slaves, but they may in fact be indentured servants. They may be prisoners working off their sentence. They may have sold themselves into slavery as a means of repaying debts to others on their world. I have seen all those situations at times.�
“You really think any of those are likely?�
“No,â€� Thrawn said, his tone hardening. “But it does not matter. However these beings were pressed into service, they are now Imperial assets. They will be treated as such.”
― Timothy Zahn, STAR WARS THRAWN