Power Quotes in A Clash of Kings

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Narrator.Paragraph)

Quote #4

It pleased [Dany] to hear that the Usurper's dogs were fighting amongst themselves, though she was unsurprised. The same thing happened when her Drogo died, and his great khalasar tore itself to pieces. (28.Daenerys.58)

While loyalty is all well and good, it is the perception of power that really keeps the society in line. When the figurehead is gone, this creates a vacuum as others strive to claim the power for themselves. We saw this with Robert's death, too, and we'll see it time and again throughout the series.

Quote #5

A few voices raised a cry of "Joffrey! All hail, all hail!" as the young king rode by, but for every man who picked up the shout, a hundred kept their silence. (42.Tyrion.26)

In some ways, the smallfolk know they grant Joffrey the power to rule them, and they're good with it as long as they are kept safe and fed. But when those two things become less certain, well, let's just say it leads to a lot of questions being asked in hushed voices.

Quote #6

The council had extended [Tyrion's] curfew; it was death to be taken on the streets after the evenfall bells had sung. The measure had restored a degree of peace to King's Landing and quartered the number of corpses found in the alleys of a morning, yet Varys said the people cursed him for it. They should be thankful they have the breath to curse. (45.Tyrion.25)

Heavy is the head, right? One of the disadvantages of power is that things will go wrong. And when they do, everything wrong becomes your fault. Just ask any U.S. president ever.