These are the victories I have set myself on achieving.

Oh Mrs.Pendennis! isn't it humiliating?
Why isn't there a war?
Why haven't I a genius?
There is a painter who lives hard by, and who begs me to come and look at his work.

He is in the Muggins line too.

He gets his canvases with a good light upon them; excludes the contemplation of other objects; stands beside his picture in an attitude himself; and thinks that he and they are masterpieces.

Oh me, what drivelling wretches we are! Fame!--except that of just the one or two,--what's the use of it ?" In all of which Thackeray is speaking his own feelings about himself as well as the world at large.