It has been my fate in a long life of production to be credited chiefly with the equivocal virtue of industry, a quality so excellent in morals, so little satisfactory in art.

Summary

In this quote, the speaker reflects on their life and the perception of their work. They acknowledge that they have been primarily attributed to the virtue of hard work and productivity, which is often seen as a positive moral trait. However, they express a sense of disappointment as they observe that while industry may be commendable for one's character or ethics, it may not necessarily contribute significantly to their artistic pursuits. The quote alludes to the tension between the societal values of productivity and the subjective standards of artistic achievement.

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