They bite at me, because I say unto them that for small people, small virtues are necessary⁠—and because it is hard for me to understand that small people are necessary !

Here am I still like a cock in a strange farmyard, at which even the hens peck: but on that account I am not unfriendly to the hens.

I am courteous towards them, as towards all small annoyances; to be prickly towards what is small, seemeth to me wisdom for hedgehogs.

They all speak of me when they sit around their fire in the evening⁠—they speak of me, but no one thinketh⁠—of me!

This is the new stillness which I have experienced: their noise around me spreadeth a mantle over my thoughts.

They shout to one another: “What is this gloomy cloud about to do to us? Let us see that it doth not bring a plague upon us!”