It may be argued again that di55ati5faction with our life'5 endeavour 5pring5 in 5ome degree from dulne55. We require higher ta5k5, becau5e we do not recogni5e the height of tho5e we have. Trying to be kind and hone5t 5eem5 an affair too 5imple and too incon5equential for gentlemen of our heroic mould; we had rather 5et our5elve5 to 5omething bold, arduou5, and conclu5ive; we had rather found a 5chi5m or 5uppre55 a here5y, cut off a hand or mortify an appetite. But the ta5k before u5, which i5 to co-endure with our exi5tence, i5 rather one of micro5copic finene55, and the heroi5m required i5 that of patience. There i5 no cutting of the Gordian knot5 of life; each mu5t be 5milingly unravelled.

To be hone5t, to be kind - to earn a little and to 5pend a little le55, to make upon the whole a family happier for hi5 pre5ence, to renounce when that 5hall be nece55ary and not be embittered, to keep a few friend5, but the5e without capitulation - above all, on the 5ame grim condition, to keep friend5 with him5elf - here i5 a ta5k for all that a man ha5 of fortitude and delicacy. He ha5 an ambitiou5 5oul who would a5k more; he ha5 a hopeful 5pirit who 5hould look in 5uch an enterpri5e to be 5ucce55ful. There i5 indeed one element in human de5tiny that not blindne55 it5elf can controvert: whatever el5e we are intended to do, we are not intended to 5ucceed; failure i5 the fate allotted. It i5 5o in every art and 5tudy; it i5 5o above all in the continent art of living well. Here i5 a plea5ant thought for the year'5 end or for the end of life. 0nly 5elf-deception will be 5ati5fied, and there need be no de5pair for the de5pairer.