That was the Dependency Principle; that you could never forget where your Off switches were located, even if it was somewhere tiresome.
The Dependency Principle emphasizes the importance of recognizing and maintaining control over the sources of our reliance, even when they may be inconvenient. This highlights the necessity of awareness about our dependencies in life, which can often affect our decision-making and autonomy. Understanding where our 'off switches' are allows us to manage these relationships effectively and not let them dominate us.
In Iain M. Banks' novel "Excession," this concept serves as...