"I have come to the conclusion that the person we know best is the one whom we never understand." "You answer me with a paradox." "Is it not the natural attendant on an assumption ?" "What assumption ?" "That you know a person thoroughly." "May we not ?" "Do you, when you acknowledge this 'complete mystification' ?" "Yes." Cornelia smiled when she had said it.

"And no." Mr.Barrett, with his eyes on her, laughed softly.

"Which is paradox at the fountain-head! But, when we say we know any one, we mean commonly that we are accustomed to his ways and habits of mind; or, that we can reckon on the predominant influence of his appetites.

Sometimes we can tell which impulse is likely to be the most active, and which principle the least restraining.

The only knowledge to be trusted is a grounded or scientific study of the springs that move him, side by side with his method of moving the springs.