...to his pride, to say what he thought would prove instructive to me. " There is no man," he began, " however wise, who has not at some period of his youth...would gladly, if he could, expunge it from his memory. And yet he ought not entirely to regret it, because he cannot be certain that he has indeed become...

...centres, ultimately, on the painter's growth from foolishness to genius: "There is no man," says Elstir, "however wise who has not at some period of his youth said things, or lived a life, the memory of which is so unpleasant to him that he would gladly expunge it. And yet he ought...

...dryly and taken care to avoid seeing me again, notes Proust. Far lrom being annoyed, Elstir answers: There is no man, however wise, who has not at some period ol his youth said things, or lived a lile, the memory ol which is so unpleasant to him that he would...

...as "the lesson of the master" and, paradoxically, contradicts itself. "There is no man," he began, "however wise, who has not at some period of his youth...would gladly, if he could, expunge it from his memory. And yet he ought not entirely to regret it, because he cannot be certain that he has indeed become...

...injury to his pride, to say what he thought would prove instructive to me. 'There is no man,' he began, 'however wise, who has not at some period of his youth...would gladly, if he could, expunge it from his memory. And yet he ought not entirely to regret it, because he cannot be certain that he has indeed become...