It had not its root in genuine benevolence, or sympathy with mankind; though these qualities held their due place in my ethical standard.

Nor was it connected with any high enthusiasm for ideal nobleness.

Yet of this feeling I was imaginatively very susceptible; but there was at that time an intermission of its natural aliment, poetical culture, while there was a superabundance of the discipline antagonistic to it, that of mere logic and analysis.

Add to this that, as already mentioned, my father's teachings tended to the undervaluing of feeling.

It was not that he was himself cold-hearted or insensible; I believe it was rather from the contrary quality; he thought that feeling could take care of itself; that there was sure to be enough of it if actions were properly cared about.