Mild Humor And A Merseian Aphorism

"Day of Burning."

Adzel tells the Merseian Star Believers:

"'Calm, patience, carrying out one's daily round of duties, those are the galactic virtues.'" (p. 341)

Then he reflects:

"Try telling that to a merchant adventurer." (ibid.)

Understandably, he checks himself before proceeding. 

Chee Lan wonders whether she should spend more time with her clandestine Merseian contacts but then reflects:

"But chaos, how much propaganda she'd have to strain out of what she heard! Also, she'd now been as diplomatic as long as anyone could expect. Hadn't she?" (p. 338)

For a trade pioneer, diplomacy is so disagreeable a duty that she cannot reasonably be expected to overdo it?

Haguan Eluatz tells Chee:

"'We judge the soil by what crops it bears.'" (p. 354)

An almost Biblical aphorism from a criminal overlord.

Small gems in a rich text.