Heroism works in contradiction to the voice of mankind, and in contradiction, for a time, to
the voice of the great and good. Heroism is an obedience to a secret Impulse of an
Individual's character. Now to no other man can its wisdom appear as it does to him, for
every man must be supposed to see a little farther on his own proper path than any one else.
Therefore, just and wise men take umbrage at his act, until after some little time be past:
then they see it to be in unison with their acts. All prudent men see that the action is clean
contrary to a sensual prosperity, for every heroic act measures itself by its contempt of some
external good. But it finds its own success at last, and then the prudent also extol.
Self-trust is the essence of heroism. It is the state of the soul at war, and its ultimate objects
are the last defiance of falsehood and wrong, and the power to bear all that can be inflicted
by evil agents. It speaks the truth, and it is just, generous, hospitable, temperate, scornful of
petty calculations, and scornful of being scorned. It persists; it is of an undaunted boldness,
and of a fortitude not to be wearied out
Which sentence best describes the author's point of view?
A.
Heroic people are not guided by the approval of others.
B.
Heroes sometimes doubt their own motives.
C.
Herolc people are not scornful toward others.
D.
Heroes are born rather than forged by mere circumstance.