But knowing and trusting you as I do, with a firm and filial confidence in your loving thoughts and candid open-mindedness, I venture to say exactly what I think, believing that it would be a far more essential disrespect to endeavour to blink those opinions.
"Shortly, I do _not_ believe that practical usefulness of a direct kind is the end of life.

I do _not_ believe that success is either a test of greatness nor, as you suggest, an adequate aim for it, though you will perhaps excuse me if I say that the reasons you give seem to me to be only the material view skillfully veiled.
"I do not feel in my own mind assured that the highest call in my case is to engage in a practical life.

In fact, I feel fairly well assured that it is not.

I do not know that I intend deliberately to shirk the responsibilities of moral action which fall in every feeling man's way.

I rather mean that I shall face them from the ordinary standpoint, and not thrust myself into any position where helping my fellow-creatures is merely an official act.