It is a terribly responsible power....

I do not mean for a moment to imply that I am indifferent to the good opinion of others--far otherwise; but to gain this is much less a concern with me than to deserve it.

It was not so once.

I had no wish for unmerited praise, but I was too ready to settle that I did merit it.

Now, the word DUTY seems to me the biggest word in the world, and is uppermost in all my serious doings." This was written only about four months before his death.