In the tales and histories, heroism was not earned by murder or
slaughter. Heroes were those who atoned for violent acts, or those who
died bravely.
-- Ursula K. Le Guin. The Telling. 2000. p.125-126.
The people of the old way placidly accepted new technologies and
products, so long as they worked better than the old ones and so long
as using them did not require changing one's life in any important
way. To Sutty this seemed a profound but reasonable conservatism. But
to an economy predicated on endless growth, it was anathema.
-- Ursula K. Le Guin. The Telling. 2000. p.125-126.
She particularly detested the literal readings. By such literalism,
fundamentalism, religions betrayed the best intentions of their
founders. Reducing thought to formula, replacing choice by obedience,
these preachers turned the living word into dead law.
-- Ursula K. Le Guin. The Telling. 2000. p.132.