---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Emperors per se did not unnerve Miles…"
description: "\"“Emperors per se did not unnerve Miles . . . . Emperor Gregor had been raised along with Miles practically as his foster-brother; somewhere in the back..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/081/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_quote_emperors-per-se-did-not-unnerve-miles-em_1169188.jpg"
---

#  Emperors per se did not unnerve Miles . . . . Emperor…

![“Emperors per se did not unnerve Miles . . . . Emperor Gregor had been raised along with Miles practically as his foster-brother; somewhere in the back of Miles's mind the term emperor was coupled with such identifiers as somebody to play hide-and-seek with . In this context those hidden…” quote by Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/081/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_quote_emperors-per-se-did-not-unnerve-miles-em_1169188.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/081/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_quote_emperors-per-se-did-not-unnerve-miles-em_1169188.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/081/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_quote_emperors-per-se-did-not-unnerve-miles-em_1169188.jpg)

> ““Emperors per se did not unnerve Miles . . . . Emperor Gregor had been raised along with Miles practically as his foster-brother; somewhere in the back of Miles's mind the term emperor was coupled with such identifiers as somebody to play hide-and-seek with . In this context those hidden assumptions could be a psychosocial land mine.””

[Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Miles does not fear emperors because his personal experience makes the title feel familiar and harmless, turning a potentially threatening symbol into a harmless game.

**In simple terms:** Personal experience can neutralize fear of authority.

Key Takeaway

Recognize how personal history shapes reactions.

Themes

authority psychology trust identity social dynamics

Mood

reflective analytical thoughtful

Type

philosophical insightful literary

When to use this quote

- leadership challenges
- team building
- conflict resolution
- personal development

Key Concepts

psychosocial conditioning symbolic meaning fear mitigation

Questions to Reflect On

- How does your upbringing affect your view of authority?
- Can familiar symbols be reframed to reduce fear?

A Different Perspective

The metaphor may oversimplify complex power dynamics.

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