Syl Anagist's assimilation of the world had been over a century before I was ever made; all cities were Syl Anagist. All languages had become Sylanagistine. But there were none so frightened, or so strange in their fear, as conquerors. They conjure phantoms endlessly, terrified that their victims will someday do back what was done to them - even if, in truth, their victims couldn't care less about such pettiness and have moved on. Conquerors live in dread of the day when they are shown to be, not superior, but simply lucky. N.K. Jemisin
About This Quote

When someone conquers a country, they can see the people who were there before them and assume they will be gone by the next generation. However, the indigenous people have been living in that country for so long that they have become a part of it. They have adapted to the culture and have come to accept the new conquerors as their own. They are not resentful nor angry because they don't want anything to do with the new conqueror's culture. Instead, they welcome them with open arms to learn more about their own culture.

Source: The Stone Sky

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