That got a sensible chuckle out of everypony present, and he continued. "You've dealt with every problem we've faced, and I know I've been the cause of a lot of them, too. You haven't been afraid to speak truth to power, and you've been willing and able to learn all the strange new things I've come up with." He held his arms wide, magnanimously. "You're a solid, reliable anchor on a boat thrown about in stormy seas. And, as you're their leader, I'm sure the rest of the quaternion feels the same way."