It was almost a masterpiece in good form.

It's the hardest thing in the world to act spontaneously on one's impulses--and it's the only really gentlemanly thing to do--provided you're fit to do it.' 'You don't expect me to take you seriously, do you ?' asked Gerald.
'Yes, Gerald, you're one of the very few people I do expect that of.' 'Then I'm afraid I can't come up to your expectations here, at any rate.

You think people should just do as they like.' 'I think they always do.

But I should like them to like the purely individual thing in themselves, which makes them act in singleness.

And they only like to do the collective thing.' 'And I,' said Gerald grimly, 'shouldn't like to be in a world of people who acted individually and spontaneously, as you call it.