The generality of his countrymen are far more careful not to transgress the customs of what they call gentility, than to violate the laws of honour or morality.

They will shrink from carrying their own carpet-bag, and from speaking to a person in seedy raiment, whilst to matters of much higher importance they are shamelessly indifferent.

Not so Lavengro; he will do anything that he deems convenient, or which strikes his fancy, provided it does not outrage decency or is unallied to profligacy; is not ashamed to speak to a beggar in rags, and will associate with anybody, provided he can gratify a laudable curiosity.

He has no abstract love for what is low, or what the world calls low.

He sees that many things which the world looks down upon are valuable, so he prizes much which the world contemns; he sees that many things which the world admires are contemptible, so he despises much which the world does not; but when the world prizes what is really excellent, he does not contemn it, because the world regards it.