Just adding a fact. Are you speaking from experience?

[ don't worry hook, cassian knows it's true and knows it's a compliment, he is simply Ignoring it. ]

Yes, but it is easy to say 'I refuse to be a pawn' while still being a pawn without realizing. I agree we should be in charge of our own fates, but sometimes that becomes more talk than action. Some people may not have the same means to escape manipulation.