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1909 Aug 24 11:25 am
Preface to the Book
MEANING 2

he was able could and did make sound and thoroughly original, however petty and small,
contributions to most of them, and to attain something like a respectable
standing among their devotees, -- would be regarded by you as with
so much attention as may be needed to apprehend and weigh them.
I reckon a man as pretty near a fool who has reached the age
of fifty without having gauged his own powers more accurately
than anybody else could gauge them. Relying on
my own estimates, then, I can say that my own natural powers
of mind were rather below than above mediocrity; and my fondness