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A threatening, hostile environment often makes it impossible for me to pursue my plans, or even forces me into outcomes I will hate and regret; but this unfortunate consequence of my finitude and limitations does not cancel the fact that I, too, am a party in the transaction, an ACTING party, a party with a will of its own. If worst comes to worst, and the environment becomes too hostile and threatening, I can always retreat to myself, refuse to impose my power over fortune and external things, and rest content with maintaining my independence of judgment. Nobody but I can take that away from me; even the sweeping passions that occasionally win me over would not have their way if I did not let them, that is, if I did not- perhaps half-mindedly, perhaps discontentedly – decide to let them. The world is not my own, but I most certainly am.