There is no human reason why a child should not admire and emulate his teacher's ability to do sums, rather than the village bum's ability to whittle sticks and smoke cigarettes. The reason why the child does not is plain enough -- the bum has put himself on an equality with him and the teacher has not.

Summary

This quote highlights the influence of social dynamics on a child's admiration and emulation. It suggests that a child naturally tends to admire and aspire to the skills and abilities of those deemed superior or elevated in society, such as a teacher who can do sums. However, the quote states that the child does not emulate the bum's abilities because the bum has placed himself at the same level as the child, whereas the teacher has not, making the teacher more worthy of admiration. It implies that social distinctions and attitudes play a role in shaping a child's perception and choices of role models.

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