What becomes of us is a matter of guesswork.

We have no hand in compelling our own future.

_Diffidence is a species of cowardice._ It causes a man's courage to ooze out at his toes faster than it comes into his heart.

_Such men often have big ideas, but having no confidence in themselves they lack the power to compel confidence in others._ When they go into the presence of a man of personality they lose their self-confidence and all of the pent-up courage which drove them forward flies out at the window.

Their weakness multiplies with each failure until finally "the jig is up"-- _their impotency is complete_.
Very largely those who have big ideas to present expect to be taken in on them and to be given an opportunity to succeed along with their scheme.