And if the great fear had not come upon me, as it did, and forced me to do my duty, I might have been less good to the people than some man who had never dreamed at all, even with the memory of so great a vision in me.

Summary

This quote suggests that fear and the sense of duty can sometimes be catalysts for taking action and fulfilling one's responsibilities, even if they may seem daunting. The speaker implies that the fear they experienced compelled them to act in the best interests of others, potentially making them more valuable to society than someone who had never experienced such fear but also lacked a grand vision. It highlights the transformative power of fear as a motivator and how it can lead to unexpected outcomes.

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