Some fault of hand or mind or temperament led him to failure where other men found success.

Wherever the blame for his disabilities be placed, he reaped their bitter fruit.

"Give me bread!" he cried to America.

"What will you do to earn it ?" the challenge came back.

And he found that he was master of no art, of no trade; that even his precious learning was of no avail, because he had only the most antiquated methods of communicating it.
So in his primary quest he had failed.