. . He had by now divested himself of schoolboy attitudes. He was
unburdened by the desire to be a martyr or a hero. Any thoughts in that
direction, Belgica effectively had quashed. Heroism in the corrupt sense of
the age almost by definition, meant wanton self-sacrifice and bungling. For
neither had he any taste. He wanted rational attainment; victory, but not
at any price. No point upon the globe was worth the cost of a single life.
-- Roland Huntford, SCOTT and AMUNDSEN The Race to The South Pole
-- referring to polar explorer Roald Amundsen.
Whenever Alexander heard Philip had taken any town of importance
or won any signal victory, instead of rejoicing at it altogether,
he would tell his companions that his father would anticipate everything,
and leave him and them no opportunities of performing great and illustrious
actions....