The King shits and The Hand wipes.

The line is a deliberately crude reduction of monarchy to its practical realities: even the most exalted ruler depends on subordinates to manage consequences, clean up mistakes, and perform the unglamorous labor that power generates. It underscores the asymmetry of responsibility in hierarchical systems—those at the top make decisions (or indulge impulses), while those beneath must implement, justify, and absorb the fallout. In the world of Martin’s political fantasy, the sentiment aligns with recurring themes about governance as administration rather than pageantry, and about how proximity to power often means servitude, moral compromise, and exposure to blame.