Work that does not help others is not a real man's work." From that moment conscience tormented him.

It was not what he loved, but what he ought to do, that counted in the sum of good achieved in the world.

Old Al Auchincloss had been right.

Dale was wasting strength and intelligence that should go to do his share in the development of the West.

Now that he had reached maturity, if through his knowledge of nature's law he had come to see the meaning of the strife of men for existence, for place, for possession, and to hold them in contempt, that was no reason why he should keep himself aloof from them, from some work that was needed in an incomprehensible world.
Dale did not hate work, but he loved freedom.