The first formal meeting between the Klingon Empire and the United Federation of Planets, which eventually resulted in their alliance, was held on Khitomer, a planet near the Klingon-Romulan border. Representing the Empire was Azetbur, who was appointed to lead the Klingon High Council after her father, Chancellor Gorkon, was assassinated by a coalition of those opposed to the impending peace. In her address to the conference, Azetbur altered this saying slightly when she insisted that the treaty in no way diminished the stature of the Klingon Empire: "We are a proud race, and we are here because we intend to go on being proud."

Years later, as the Federation-Klingon alliance began to fall apart, Klingon leader Gowron still adhered to this virtue. When he discovered that his rationale for moving against the Federation was based on misinformation, he held his ground, maintaining Klingon pride by coming up with a new justification for his aggression. That the Dominion had not taken over the Cardassian government "is of no consequence," Gowron said. "All that matters is that the Alpha Quadrant will be safer with the Klingon Empire in control of Cardassia."