I had already seen several poor wrecked mechanics, who, believing themselves to be poets, and regarding the manual occupation by which they could alone live in independence as beneath them, and become in consequence little better than mendicants,--too good to work for their bread, but not too good virtually to beg it; and looking upon them as beacons of warning, I determined that, with God's help, I should give their error a wide offing, and never associate the idea of meanness with an honest calling, or deem myself too good to be independent." At the same time, a man who feels that he has some good work in him, which study and labour might yet bring out, is fully justified in denying himself, and in applying his energies to the culture of his intellect.

And it is astonishing how much carefulness, thrift, the reading of books, and diligent application, will help such men onward.
The author in his boyhood knew three men who worked in an agricultural implement maker's shop.

They worked in wood and iron, and made carts, ploughs, harrows, drilling-machines, and such-like articles.

Somehow or other, the idea got into their heads that they might be able to do something better than making carts and harrows.

They did not despise the lot of hand-labour, but they desired to use it as a step towards something better.