The 'people' could not save you with their 'sympathy'
if they had never so much of it to give; a man can and must save
himself, with or without their sympathy, as it may chance.
"And may all good be with you, my kind young friend, and a heart stout
enough for this adventure you are upon; that is the best 'good' of all.
"I remain, yours very sincerely,
"T. CARLYLE."
Carlyle had forgotten this letter, but said, "It is undoubtedly mine.
It is what I have always believed . . . it has been so ever since I was
at college. I do not mean to say I was not loved there as warmly by
noble friends as ever man could be, but the world tumbled on me, and has
ever since then been tumbling on me rubbish, huge wagon-loads of
rubbish, thinking to smother me, and was surprised it did not smother
me--turned round with amazement and said, 'What, you alive yet?' . . .
While I was writing my Frederick my best friends, out of delicacy, did
not call. Those who came were those I did not want to come, and I saw
very few of them. I shook off everything to right and left.
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