back to futility and a meaningless acquiescence in existent things.
I knew myself for the weakling I was, I knew that nevertheless it
was set for me to make such order as I could out of these disorders,
and my task cowed me, gave me at the thought of it a sense of
yielding feebleness.

"Break me, O God," I prayed at last, "disgrace me, torment me,
destroy me as you will, but save me from self-complacency and little
interests and little successes and the life that passes like the
shadow of a dream."



BOOK THE THIRD

THE HEART OF POLITICS



CHAPTER THE FIRST

THE RIDDLE FOR THE STATESMAN



1


I have been planning and replanning, writing and rewriting, this
next portion of my book for many days. I perceive I must leave it