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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from A Prince of Bohemia by Honore de Balzac: swords with you when he will be secretary of an embassy and ambassador
/some day/, and you will owe him respect? /Godin!/ the thing is non-
existent! You are a nonentity, Godin. My friend cannot be expected to
beat the air! When one is somebody, one cannot fight with a nobody!
Come, my dear fellow--good-day.'
" 'My respects to madame,' added the friend.
"Another day La Palferine was walking with a friend who flung his
cigar end in the face of a passer-by. The recipient had the bad taste
to resent this.
" 'You have stood your antagonist's fire,' said the young Count, 'the
witnesses declare that honor is satisfied.'
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