"Because sometimes the best leaders are the ones who have no interest in leading. Those are often the ones who are most interested in doing what is right, not what is popular."
Cia's society is shaped by competition. She's encourage and rewarded to go take for herself whatever she wants, but she recognizes that this mindset is incompatible with a lot of people, like Tomas. Her position in the president's office allows her to witness powerful people everyday and observes how the ones who refuse to engage in competition often would make the best, most effective and compassionate leaders.
"A cage that cannot be seen is no less there than if the walls were made of steel."
Cia feels trapped by her government for good reason. The United Commonwealth has built a system of fear which secures its authority by secret murder and zero tolerance. Although the machinations of the government are not readily visible to the general public, Cia observes, the effects are still very real and potentially catastrophic.
"Thinking something is true doesn't make it so. Perception is almost as important as reality."
Cia lives a secret life, so she understands more than most the value of perception. She needs people to believe she is a loyal citizen in order to fight for her true cause, which is the destruction of the Commonwealth. In cultivating a public perception, Cia has to be careful not to allow her persona to corrupt her character.
"Those who depend fully on another person's knowledge to decide what is possible are easily manipulated. The most effective leaders utilize experts from all fields, but rely on none when it comes to making a decision."
Cia learns about leadership in school, through her internship with the president, and in her work with Michael Gallen and the rebellion, so she is able to observe the similarities and differences between these different leadership styles. The shared feature of all of these leaders in Cia's estimation is their self-reliance. These leaders do not allow other people to dictate their decisions but instead trust their guts. This is what allows Gallen and Cia to see through government corruption.
