If he refused the see the clear danger to his whole structure-and their own ascendant position at the center of it-it was their clear duty to protect him nonetheless.
"Eight Keys to Eden"
Mark Irvin Clifton
To be ascendant at the center of things, to remain ascendant, meant that all things of lesser importance, outside the center, must be made subservient to him, else that ascendancy was lost.
"Eight Keys to Eden"
Mark Irvin Clifton
And men fought wars over these differing symbols, each side determined to make its symbol ascendant over the other.
"Eight Keys to Eden"
Mark Irvin Clifton