King Darkstalker

“Military leadership is a journey, not a destination. It is continually challenged, and must continually prove it self anew against fresh obstacles. Sometimes those obstacles are external events. Other times they are the doubts of those being led. Still other times they are a result of the leaders's own failures and shortcomings.
Political power and influence are different. Once certain levels have been reached, there is no need to prove leadership or competence. A person with such power is accustomed to having every word carefully considere, and every whim treated as an order. And all who recognize that power know to bow to it.
A few have the courage or the foolishness to resist. Some succeed in standing firm against the storm. More often, they find their paths yet again turned form their hopes for goal.”
― Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Thrawn

“One whose path has taken a new turn is often initially disoriented. But as time passes, and the path continues steadily in its new direction, there is a tendency to believe that it will remain so forever, with no further turns.
Nothing is further from the truth. A path once bent is always susceptible to new changes.
Particularly when the original change came from manipulation by an outside force.”
― Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Thrawn

“Seldom can one attain victory in ware fare without allies. Some allies provide direct assistance, the two forces battling side by side. Other allies provide logistical support, whether weapons and combat equipment or simply food and other life needs. Sometimes the most effective use of an ally is as a threat, his very presence creating a distraction or forcing the common enemy to deploy resources away from the main Battlefront.
But standing by an ally doesn't necessarily mean one will always agree with that ally. Or with his goals or methods.”
― Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Thrawn

“Alliances are useful in some situations. In others, they are absolutely vital.
But they must always be approached with caution. Unity of that sort is based on mutual advantage. While that advantage exists the alliance may stand firm. But needs change, and advantages fade, and a day may come when one ally sees new benefits to be gained in betraying another.
The warrior must be alert to such changes if he is to anticipate and survive an anannounced blow. Fortunately, the signs are usually evident in time for defense to be planned and executed.
There is also always the possibility that changes will serve to meld the allies even more closely together. It is rare, but it can happen.”
― Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Thrawn