Some fellows free themselves by dint of hard study.

In my case that was made impossible by all sorts of reasons--temperament mainly, as you know.

I was always a rebel against my fetters; I had not to learn that liberty was desirable, but how to obtain it, and what use to make of it.

All the disorder through which I have gone was a struggle towards self-knowledge and understanding of my time.

You and others are wildly in error in calling it dissipation, profligacy, recklessness, and so on.