Is that metaphysics?
Who knows?
It is vanity in either case, and the vanity of self-respect is perhaps a more dangerous thing than the vanity of self-love, though you may call it pride if you like, or give it any other high-sounding title.

But the heart of the vain man is lighter than the heart of the proud.
Probably Nino has always had much self-respect, but I doubt if it has made him very happy--until lately.

True, he has genius, and does what he must by nature do or die, whereas I have not even talent, and I make myself do for a living what I can never do well.

What does it serve, to make comparisons?
I could never have been like Nino, though I believe half my pleasure of late has been in fancying how I should feel in his place, and living through his triumphs by my imagination.
Nino began at the very beginning, and when all his capital was one shoe and a ragged hat, and certainly not more than a third of a shirt, he said he would be a great singer; and he is, though he is scarcely of age yet.

I wish it had been something else than a singer, but since he is the first already, it was worth while.