--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Of course, it was impossible, in this…" description: "\"“Of course, it was impossible, in this company, not to think about balances of power. Raffin and Bann glanced at each other now and then, sharing silen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/kristin-cashore-369_balance-of-power_of-course-it-was-impossible-in-this-comp_3208197.jpg" --- # Of course, it was impossible, in this company, not to… ![“Of course, it was impossible, in this company, not to think about balances of power. Raffin and Bann glanced at each other now and then, sharing silent agreement, teasing each other, or just resting their eyes on each other, as if each man was a comfortable resting place for the other. Prince…” quote by Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/kristin-cashore-369_balance-of-power_of-course-it-was-impossible-in-this-comp_3208197.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/kristin-cashore-369_balance-of-power_of-course-it-was-impossible-in-this-comp_3208197.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/kristin-cashore-369_balance-of-power_of-course-it-was-impossible-in-this-comp_3208197.jpg) > ““Of course, it was impossible, in this company, not to think about balances of power. Raffin and Bann glanced at each other now and then, sharing silent agreement, teasing each other, or just resting their eyes on each other, as if each man was a comfortable resting place for the other. Prince Raffin, heir to the Middluns throne; Bann, who had no title, no fortune. How she longed to ask them questions that were too nosy for asking, even by her standards. How did they balance money matters? How did they make decisions? How did Bann cope with the expectation that Raffin marry and produce heirs? If Randa knew the truth about his son, would Bann be in danger? Did Bann ever resent Raffin’s wealth and importance? What was the balance of power in their bed?”” [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage explores complex power dynamics between two characters, their mutual reliance, and the intrigue surrounding their personal and political relationships. **In simple terms:** Two characters share power, secrets, and mutual dependence. Key Takeaway Examine how power and intimacy intertwine. Themes power intimacy politics trust secrets balance Mood intricate thoughtful Type literary character study When to use this quote - royal court - political negotiations - personal relationships - family expectations Key Concepts power dynamics relationship negotiation court intrigue social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How does mutual reliance affect decision making? - What are the costs of hidden power imbalances? A Different Perspective Power can be both protective and oppressive, creating hidden tensions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Balance of power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance-of-power/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Money matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money-matters/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [Your face will freeze like that, you know, Kat," Raffin said helpfully to Katsa. 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The people who are really pumped up about Divine Order are the people who have had a sweet Divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dina-kucera/people-talk-about-divine-order-the-people-who-are-really-pumped-up/) [Dina Kucera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dina-kucera/) > [If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/if-you-would-be-wealthy-think-of-saving-as-well-as-getting/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Fellows of colleges do not always find money matters easy to understand: if they did, they would probably not have been the sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/fellows-of-colleges-do-not-always-find-money-matters-easy-to/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“Problems in 21st Century – 1 Well educated and rapidly communicated, looks as smart gentleman but practices the least Morals. 2 Globally communicated –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-t-v-rao-md/problems-in-21st-century-1-well-educated-and-rapidly-communicated/) [Dr.T.V.Rao MD](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-t-v-rao-md/) > [The money matters. And secret money is corrupting, secret money is dangerous, secret money leads to scandal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/the-money-matters-and-secret-money-is-corrupting-secret-money-is/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [Money matters but less than we think and not in the way that we think. Family is important. So are friends. Envy is toxic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/money-matters-but-less-than-we-think-and-not-in-the-way-that-we-think/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) > [I think that Obama's failure to reestablish the rule of law in money matters is the most damaging thing that he's done - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/i-think-that-obama-s-failure-to-reestablish-the-rule-of-law-in-money/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [“You sort of lose your nonfinance friends,” he said. “My friend might be in Teach for America, and they can’t afford to go out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-roose/you-sort-of-lose-your-nonfinance-friends-he-said-my-friend-might-be/) [Kevin Roose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-roose/) > [When you have a kid, money matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-parsons/when-you-have-a-kid-money-matters/) [Tony Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-parsons/) > [Being popular is the most important thing in the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/being-popular-is-the-most-important-thing-in-the-world/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) ## More by Kristin Cashore > [“Back onto their horses, and shortly thereafter word had come around from the command units that any soldier brawling over any matter relating to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/back-onto-their-horses-and-shortly-thereafter-word-had-come-around/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“The girls clipped and swept, and Katsa’s hair fell away. She thrilled at the unfamiliar chill of air on her neck. And wondered if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/the-girls-clipped-and-swept-and-katsa-s-hair-fell-away-she-thrilled/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“Raffin appeared again, a floor above her, on the balconied passageway that ran past his workrooms. He leaned over the railing and called down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/raffin-appeared-again-a-floor-above-her-on-the-balconied-passageway/) [Kristin cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“When you’re a monster, she thought, you are thanked and praised for not behaving like a monster. 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But she remembered having told Archer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/she-had-thought-she-d-already-reached-her-capacity-for-pain-and-had/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“He thinks it's dangerous for us to leave each other so much freedom and make these vague plans to travel together in the future,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/he-thinks-it-s-dangerous-for-us-to-leave-each-other-so-much-freedom/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [Ideas were growing in all directions and dimensions; they were becoming a sculpture, or a castle. And then everyone left her, to return to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/ideas-were-growing-in-all-directions-and-dimensions-they-were/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [But everyone has some kind of power to hurt people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/but-everyone-has-some-kind-of-power-to-hurt-people/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“Papa?” she said, turning in circles now, spinning to look at each of the entrances. “Do you mean Papa? Where?” He came through an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/papa-she-said-turning-in-circles-now-spinning-to-look-at-each-of-the/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“He decided to mark this new era in his life with a change of his foolish, sentimental name. The people of this land had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/he-decided-to-mark-this-new-era-in-his-life-with-a-change-of-his/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [I know you don't want this, Katsa. But I can't help myself. The moment you came barreling into my life I was lost. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/i-know-you-don-t-want-this-katsa-but-i-can-t-help-myself-the-moment/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“Como no te has dado cuenta de que tus ojos me atrapan igual que te ocurre a ti con los míos”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/como-no-te-has-dado-cuenta-de-que-tus-ojos-me-atrapan-igual-que-te/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [I've been afraid of being Cansrel,' she said aloud to her reflection. 'But I'm not Cansrel.' At her elbow, Musa said blandly, 'Any one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/i-ve-been-afraid-of-being-cansrel-she-said-aloud-to-her-reflection/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [Find something useful to do with your morning,' she thought to him as she neared her chambers. 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Raffin and Bann glanced at each other now and then, sharing silent agreement, teasing each other, or just resting their eyes on each other, as if each man was a comfortable resting place for the other. Prince Raffin, heir to the Middluns throne; Bann, who had no title, no fortune. How she longed to ask them questions that were too nosy for asking, even by her standards. How did they balance money matters? How did they make decisions? How did Bann cope with the expectation that Raffin marry and produce heirs? If Randa knew the truth about his son, would Bann be in danger? Did Bann ever resent Raffin’s wealth and importance? 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