Human association,--which will mean discipline, vigorous wise subordination and co-ordination,--is so unspeakably important.

Professions, "regimented human pursuits," how many of honorable and manful might be possible for men; and which should _not_, in their results to society, need to stumble along, in such an unwieldy futile manner, with legs swollen into such enormous elephantiasis and no go at all in them! Men will one day think of the force they squander in every generation, and the fatal damage they encounter, by this neglect.
The career likeliest for Sterling, in his and the world's circumstances, would have been what is called public life: some secretarial, diplomatic or other official training, to issue if possible in Parliament as the true field for him.

And here, beyond question, had the gross material conditions been allowed, his spiritual capabilities were first-rate.
In any arena where eloquence and argument was the point, this man was calculated to have borne the bell from all competitors.

In lucid ingenious talk and logic, in all manner of brilliant utterance and tongue-fence, I have hardly known his fellow.

So ready lay his store of knowledge round him, so perfect was his ready utterance of the same,--in coruscating wit, in jocund drollery, in compact articulated clearness or high poignant emphasis, as the case required,--he was a match for any man in argument before a crowd of men.