Only mind, I did not say we were not to enjoy our roast beef more
than our bread and cheese; that would be not to discriminate, where
there is a difference. If bread and cheese were just as good to us
as roast beef, there would be no victory in our contentment."
"I see!" said Davie.--"Wouldn't it be well," he asked, after a
moment's pause, "to put one's self in training, Mr. Grant, to do
without things--or at least to be able to do without them?"
"It is much better to do the lessons set you by one who knows how to
teach, than to pick lessons for yourself out of your books. Davie, I
have not that confidence in myself to think I should be a good
teacher of myself."
"But you are a good teacher of me, sir!"
"I try--but then I'm set to teach you, and I am not set to teach
myself: I am only set to make myself do what I am taught. When you
are my teacher, Davie, I try--don't I--to do everything you tell
me?"
"Yes, indeed, sir!"
"But I am not set to obey myself!"
"No, nor anyone else, sir! You do not need to obey anyone, or have
anyone teach you, sir!"
"Oh, don't I, Davie! On the contrary, I could not get on for one
solitary moment without somebody to teach me. Look you here, Davie:
I have so many lessons given me, that I have no time or need to add
to them any of my own. If you were to ask the cook to let you have a
cold dinner, you would perhaps eat it with pride, and take credit
for what your hunger yet made quite agreeable to you.
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