Some people would say those are the same thing. [ Stupidity and optimism. ]

And that [ he says with some certainty ] is a stupid way to run an empire. Salting the earth you hope to conquer. [ There were really very few things in this world or his own that Nash could still summon moral indignation over. But senseless death was one of them. ]

And if their objective is simple, craven murder, well— [ he made one of his vague gestures, and took another drink. ]