Then why urge him on to tasks for which he was by nature unfitted?
And yet there was much in his old friend's letter which moved him.
There were certain words which he kept on repeating to himself.

"He cannot be justified in even remembering that he has a self." It was a hard thing to say of any man, but yet a true thing of such a man as his correspondent had described.

His correspondent had spoken of a man who should know himself to be capable of serving the State.
If a man were capable, and was sure within his own bosom of his own capacity, it would be his duty.

But what if he were not so satisfied?
What if he felt that any labours of his would be vain, and all self-abnegation useless?
His friend had told him that on that matter he was bound to take the opinion of others.

Perhaps so.