Some people, when presented with a situation where it's plausibly justifiable to be mean, will choose meanness every single time. And it's sort of subtle, because they can make an argument that they're being reasonable in every individual case, but, in aggregate, they're poisonous, absolutely psychically corrosive to their whole environments. And the attitude is sort of contagious because it always looks strong, even as it weakens and hollows everything it touches — it gives you lots of opportunities to score points, you're always on the offensive, you keep everyone permanently on the back foot. And it makes everyone fucking miserable. You have to look at those situations and say, actually, it's also perfectly plausible and reasonable for you not to be an asshole about this, you're choosing this, and you always choose this.
-i didn’t say it was the whole story. just the useful part.
jared harris as anderson dawes in the expanse