An abstract paragraph

In fiction, abstract bits are (ideally) sort of unsual. Not unsual at the level of books or stories, but at the level of sentences or paragraphs. Many stories have some abstract bits. Usually (I think) these bits make up only a small fraction of the overall text.

But sometimes these abstract bits come up anyway. An example from Terry Pratchett's Small Gods:

[Vorbis] strolled through the citadel. He always made a point of taking a daily walk through some of the lower levels, although of course always at a different time, and via a different route. Insofar as Vorbis got any pleasure in life, at least in any way that could be recognized by a normal human being, it was in seeing the faces of humble members of the clergy as they rounded a corner and found themselves face-to-chin with Decaon Vorbis of the Quisition. There was always that little intake of breath that indicated a guilty conscience. That was what consciences were for. Guilt was the grease in which the wheels of authority turned.

I think the necessary context explains itself here, so I'll skip it.

This paragraph is mostly abstract. It's about the things Vorbis always does and the way things usually go or the way he likes them to go. "He always made a point," and "Insofar as..." and "There was always..." These three sentences make up half the paragraph by sentences and something like 80% by words. The other 2/6 sentences are Vorbis' commentary or thoughts: "That was what consciences were for. Guilt was the grease in which the wheels of authority turned." The actual action here is just one short sentence: "He [Vorbis] strolled through the citadel."

Also, unrelated, but I like this phrase, "guilt was the grease in which the wheels of authority turned."