It is the mark of a modest man to accept his friendly circle ready-made from the hands of opportunity.
Meaning
In Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, the lawyer Utterson is described this way: his friends are the people life placed near him, not a curated set. Notice the longtime acquaintances you overlook, and invite one of them for coffee instead of waiting for a perfect new circle.
Source: Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886)
About the author
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist and poet, best known for Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
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