However the fact has to be faced that most of us are, for practical purposes, egotistical to some degree. Few people, except possibly in war, are dedicated to any cause at all. Particularly suspect are the people who claim to be dedicated. No-one goes about claiming to be honest or claiming to be sincere; or if they do, one suspects them at once - at least of deluding themselves. The same goes for people who claim to be dedicated. It is unwise to accept their pretensions. On the other hand few people have given way so completely to egotism, as to become entirely egotistical. So we are bound to ask the question, how should our normal behaviour be described? What does our behaviour put into practice?

Certain facts about ourselves are clear for all to see. Most of us are a mixture of confidence and lack of confidence. I suppose if one ever met the perfect man, he would be confident in every circumstance. Even in circumstances with which he was not familiar, he would be confident in admitting his inexperience; and how few of us have the courage to do that. So much of professional life consists in the glossing over of one's crass ignorance; as when the barrister's clerk tells the solicitor that Mr. Fireworks has great…