It took me twenty years of studied self-restraint, aided by the natural decay of my faculties, to make myself dull enough to be accepted as a serious person by the British public.

Summary

In this quote, the speaker humorously suggests that they had to suppress their own personality and intellectual sharpness over a long period of time in order to be seen as a serious and respectable individual by the British public. The mention of "studied self-restraint" indicates deliberate efforts made to conform to societal expectations, while the reference to the "natural decay" of their faculties implies the notion of becoming more conventional and less eccentric as they aged. Ultimately, the quote highlights the speaker's willingness to conform to gain approval, even if it meant sacrificing aspects of their true self.

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