How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"To govern this land is to govern its lords. Not that it's ever done. Do you know the saying, Karhide is not a nation but a family quarrel?" (1.17)
We've never heard that saying, but it seems apt for any political situation. Seriously, have you ever watched C-SPAN? Bickering, bickering, lunch break, and then bickering. (Unless you're a dictatorship, then it's do as daddy says.)
Quote #2
During the pause I began to think that an inept and undefended alien should not demand reasons from the prime minister of a kingdom, above all when he does not and perhaps never will understand the foundations of power and the workings of government in that kingdom. No doubt this was all a matter of shifgrethor. (1.49)
A word to the wise: when dealing with someone else's politics, it's best to actually understand their politics as well as their culture and point of view (in this case, shifgrethor). That goes double for people whose country you're in.