I said to myself: whoever excels in anything is sure to acquire a distinguished reception in society.

Let us therefore excel, no matter in what, I shall certainly be sought after; opportunities will present themselves, and my own merit will do the rest.
This childishness was not the sophism of my reason; it was that of my indolence.

Dismayed at the great and rapid efforts which would have been necessary to call forth my endeavors, I strove to flatter my idleness, and by arguments suitable to the purpose, veiled from my own eyes the shame of such a state.
I thus calmly waited for the moment when I was to be without money; and had not Father Castel, whom I sometimes went to see in my way to the coffee-house, roused me from my lethargy, I believe I should have seen myself reduced to my last farthing without the least emotion.

Father Castel was a madman, but a good man upon the whole; he was sorry to see me thus impoverish myself to no purpose.

"Since musicians and the learned," said he, "do not sing by your scale, change the string, and apply to the women.