It takes two or three generations to do what I tried to do in one; and my impulses—affections—vices perhaps they should be called—were too strong not to hamper a man without advantages; who should be as cold-blooded as a fish and as selfish as a pig to have a really good chance of being one of his country’s worthies.

我想在一代人身上完成的事，原本需要两三代人才能做到；而我的冲动、情感——也许该叫它们恶习——又太强烈，不免妨碍一个毫无优势的人。这样的人若真想有机会跻身国家的名流，就得像鱼一样冷血，像猪一样自私。