--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the softest little voice he said…" description: "\"“In the softest little voice he said, “This slave is beneath your attention.” In Akielos, submission was an art, and the slave was the artisan. Now tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/c-s-pacat-628_quote_in-the-softest-little-voice-he-said-this_1248784.jpg" --- # In the softest little voice he said, “This slave is… ![“In the softest little voice he said, “This slave is beneath your attention.” In Akielos, submission was an art, and the slave was the artisan. Now that he was showing his form, you could see that Erasmus was surely the prize pick of the Regent’s gift-slaves. Ridiculous, that he was being dragged…” quote by C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/c-s-pacat-628_quote_in-the-softest-little-voice-he-said-this_1248784.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/c-s-pacat-628_quote_in-the-softest-little-voice-he-said-this_1248784.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/c-s-pacat-628_quote_in-the-softest-little-voice-he-said-this_1248784.jpg) > ““In the softest little voice he said, “This slave is beneath your attention.” In Akielos, submission was an art, and the slave was the artisan. Now that he was showing his form, you could see that Erasmus was surely the prize pick of the Regent’s gift-slaves. Ridiculous, that he was being dragged around by the neck like an unwilling animal. It was like possessing a finely tuned instrument and using it to smash shells open. Misusing it. He”” [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character describes a slave’s subjugation as both artistic and brutal, highlighting power dynamics and exploitation. **In simple terms:** The slave is treated as an object, both crafted and abused. Key Takeaway Question the ethics of treating people as tools. Themes power exploitation artistry Mood somber critical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - historical settings - fantasy worlds - social hierarchies Key Concepts objectification authority human dignity Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape our view of oppression? - What alternatives exist to depict power without dehumanizing? A Different Perspective The metaphor may romanticize violence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaves/) ## Related quotes > [“It’s not a trick,’ said Laurent. ‘You’d let me go,’ said Damen. This time it was Laurent who was silent, gazing back at him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/it-s-not-a-trick-said-laurent-you-d-let-me-go-said-damen-this-time-it/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“Better a king in the gutter,' he said, 'than a slave in an emperor's place”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/better-a-king-in-the-gutter-he-said-than-a-slave-in-an-emperor-s-place/) [Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/) > [“You would really sacrifice your pride over the fate of a handful of slaves?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/you-would-really-sacrifice-your-pride-over-the-fate-of-a-handful-of/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [If we gotta fight and die for America, why should we be treated like slaves in America?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-williams/if-we-gotta-fight-and-die-for-america-why-should-we-be-treated-like/) Hosea Williams > [Just as the slave master required the slaves to imitate the image he had of them, so women, who live in a relatively powerless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-griffin/just-as-the-slave-master-required-the-slaves-to-imitate-the-image-he/) [Susan Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-griffin/) > [“Your realm is an insane place. In Volaria, no-one goes hungry, slaves are no use when they starve. Those freeborn too lazy or lacking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/your-realm-is-an-insane-place-in-volaria-no-one-goes-hungry-slaves/) [Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/) > [They are hare-brain'd slaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/they-are-hare-brain-d-slaves/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Once slavery in America was not seen as radical. It became, instead, a revolutionary idea that slaves should be freed. When we have lived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/once-slavery-in-america-was-not-seen-as-radical-it-became-instead-a/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [My father was a man of great charity towards the poor, and compassion for the sick, and also for servants; so much so, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-father-was-a-man-of-great-charity-towards-the-poor-and-compassion/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The master doesn’t need to chain his slaves; their needs will chain them to him. You can end slavery by the stroke of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/the-master-doesn-t-need-to-chain-his-slaves-their-needs-will-chain/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [Democracy is the suggestion box for slaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/democracy-is-the-suggestion-box-for-slaves/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred ans sixty-three, all persons held as slaves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/that-on-the-first-day-of-january-in-the-year-of-our-lord-one-thousand/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The slave and those whose present life is miserable and who can find no consolation in the heavens are assured that at least the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-slave-and-those-whose-present-life-is-miserable-and-who-can-find/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I always read all these books about the slaves. My mother is very educated. My father would talk to us like we were grown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-always-read-all-these-books-about-the-slaves-my-mother-is-very/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little they know, whereof they speak! There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-know-southern-men-declare-that-their-slaves-are-better-off-than/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More by C.S. Pacat > [“Not everyone could have the blissful equanimity of Lamen, who seemed to pay the Prince no deference of rank, a piece of very good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/not-everyone-could-have-the-blissful-equanimity-of-lamen-who-seemed/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“The ache of loss didn’t make sense, because Laurent had never been his. He had known that. The delicate thing that had grown between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/the-ache-of-loss-didn-t-make-sense-because-laurent-had-never-been-his/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“His hands slid impotently down Laurent’s tight-laced clothing. Beneath him, Laurent’s kisses were all open-mouthed. Desire flamed, painful and bright. It”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/his-hands-slid-impotently-down-laurent-s-tight-laced-clothing-beneath/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“He let his lips form a half-smile. ‘You aren’t going to offer me one of your gaudy Veretian handkerchiefs?’ ‘You could use the clothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/he-let-his-lips-form-a-half-smile-you-aren-t-going-to-offer-me-one-of/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“My uncle plans everything,’ said Laurent, as though reading Damen’s thoughts. ‘He plans for victory and he plans for defeat. It was you who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/my-uncle-plans-everything-said-laurent-as-though-reading-damen-s/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“You want to hear the truth about my uncle? I’ll tell you,’ said Laurent, a new light in his eyes. ‘I’ll tell you what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/you-want-to-hear-the-truth-about-my-uncle-i-ll-tell-you-said-laurent/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“I would court you, with all the grace and courtesy that you deserve,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/i-would-court-you-with-all-the-grace-and-courtesy-that-you-deserve/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“Instead of leaning in, Damen took Laurent’s hand, brought it towards himself, and kissed his palm, once.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/instead-of-leaning-in-damen-took-laurent-s-hand-brought-it-towards/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“Laurent, he realised, had guarded his solitude for him. And his people, fearing the fierce, strange foreign prince, had done as Laurent ordered, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/laurent-he-realised-had-guarded-his-solitude-for-him-and-his-people/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“I’m not your slave,’ said Damen. ‘I’m a man.’ Don’t”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/i-m-not-your-slave-said-damen-i-m-a-man-don-t/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“Stirring drowsily, Laurent shifted a fraction closer and made a soft, unthinking sound of pleasure that Damen was going to remember for the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/stirring-drowsily-laurent-shifted-a-fraction-closer-and-made-a-soft/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“You are too quick to pledge yourself to me.’ He felt the hard, bright edges of the pin in his fist. ‘You are my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/you-are-too-quick-to-pledge-yourself-to-me-he-felt-the-hard-bright/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“Dear Charls. Whatever will you do with your own Kemptian silk? It will spoil on the road.’ ‘We aren’t carrying any Kemptian silk,’ said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/dear-charls-whatever-will-you-do-with-your-own-kemptian-silk-it-will/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“What changed your mind?” Damen said, carefully. Laurent didn’t answer him, just looked at him with hostility. “Don’t speak, unless you’re asked a question.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/what-changed-your-mind-damen-said-carefully-laurent-didn-t-answer-him/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“A fourth son, thought Damen, waiting for someone to notice him. When he wasn’t trying to please, he was baiting authority, as though negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/a-fourth-son-thought-damen-waiting-for-someone-to-notice-him-when-he/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) [Explore all 438 C.S. Pacat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) ## More Slave quotes > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [The minimum that most minimalists want leaves in place just the institutions who protect their interests. That's libertarians for you - anarchists who want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/the-minimum-that-most-minimalists-want-leaves-in-place-just-the/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [I didn't want to be a slave to any passion anymore. I gave up card playing altogether, even bridge and gambling - more or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-sharif/i-didn-t-want-to-be-a-slave-to-any-passion-anymore-i-gave-up-card/) [Omar Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-sharif/) > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Freedom is for the educated people who fought for it. We were slaves of the English, now we will be slaves of the educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/freedom-is-for-the-educated-people-who-fought-for-it-we-were-slaves/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [My favorite Founding Fathers, Christians like John Adams, were absolutely appalled by slavery, and did not own slaves. I think we're going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/my-favorite-founding-fathers-christians-like-john-adams-were/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little they know, whereof they speak! There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-know-southern-men-declare-that-their-slaves-are-better-off-than/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“Being a slave is to have nothing but still having something left to lose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lalita-tedemy/being-a-slave-is-to-have-nothing-but-still-having-something-left-to/) Lalita Tedemy > [“Whoever then would be free, let him wish for nothing, let him decline nothing, which depends on others; else he must necessarily be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus-epictetus/whoever-then-would-be-free-let-him-wish-for-nothing-let-him-decline/) [Epictetus Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus-epictetus/) > [Man preys on man; and you mourn for the idle tapestry that decorated a gothic pillar, and the dronish bell that summoned the fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/man-preys-on-man-and-you-mourn-for-the-idle-tapestry-that-decorated-a/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [Don't become a slave to non-crucial matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ringer/don-t-become-a-slave-to-non-crucial-matters/) [Robert Ringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ringer/) > [“People think blood red, but blood don't got no colour. Not when blood wash the floor she lying on as she scream for that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/people-think-blood-red-but-blood-don-t-got-no-colour-not-when-blood/) [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) > [It's so Canada. On some level, you laugh, but on another level, it's just depressing. We pride ourselves: We're not like the bad old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-backhouse/it-s-so-canada-on-some-level-you-laugh-but-on-another-level-it-s-just/) [Constance Backhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-backhouse/) [Browse all 2,844 Slave quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In the softest little voice he said, “This slave is beneath your attention.” In Akielos, submission was an art, and the slave was the artisan. 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