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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from The Deputy of Arcis by Honore de Balzac: ordinary fellow; but I do not believe in his future. He is a man who
goes by the first impulsion, and, as Monsieur de Talleyrand has wisely
remarked, the first impulse is the good impulse."
"Well, monsieur?" inquired Madame de l'Estorade, ingenuously.
"Well, madame," replied Monsieur de Ronquerolles, who was vain of his
scepticism, "heroism is not of our day; it is heavy baggage, horribly
embarrassing, which gets us into mud-holes continually."
"Nevertheless, I believe that great qualities of heart and mind have
some share in the composition of a distinguished man."
"Qualities of mind? Yes, you are right there, provided always they
work in a certain direction. But as for qualities of the heart in
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