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The Egotist Becomes a Personage
I’msickofasystemwheretherichestmangetsthemostbeautifulgirlifhewantsher,wheretheartistwithoutanincomehastosellhistalentstoabuttonmanufacturer.EvenifIhadnotalentsI’dnotbecontenttoworktenyears,condemnedeithertocelibacyorafurtiveindulgence,togivesomeman’ssonanautomobile."
"But,ifyou’renotsure—"
"Thatdoesn’tmatter,"exclaimedAmory."Mypositioncouldn’tbeworse.Asocialrevolutionmightlandmeontop.OfcourseI’mselfish.ItseemstomeI’vebeenafishoutofwaterintoomanyoutwornsystems.Iwasprobablyoneofthetwodozenmeninmyclassatcollegewhogotadecenteducation;stillthey’dletanywell-tutoredflatheadplayfootballandIwasineligible,becausesomesillyoldmenthoughtweshouldallprofitbyconicsections.Iloathedthearmy.Iloathedbusiness.I’minlovewithchangeandI’vekilledmyconscience—"
"Soyou’llgoalongcryingthatwemustgofaster."
"That,atleast,istrue,"Amoryinsisted."Reformwon’tcatchuptotheneedsofcivilizationunlessit’smadeto.Alaissez-fairepolicyislikespoilingachildbysayinghe’llturnoutallrightintheend.Hewill—ifhe’smadeto."
"Butyoudon’tbelieveallthisSocialistpatteryoutalk."
"Idon’tknow.UntilItalkedtoyouIhadn’tthoughtseriouslyaboutit.Iwasn’tsureofhalfofwhatIsaid."
"Youpuzzleme,"saidthebigman,"butyou’reallalike.
