"Yes, one can. It is quite possible—if you know how."
"Everything's easy," said Lincoln sourly, "once you know how."
"Certainly," laughed Wanniston.
"And because I made a mistake, I failed."
"Had you taken everything into account, you would have known that you could never succeed. You wouldn't have started, and now you wouldn't be a complete and broken failure."
"You may well gloat."
"I'm not gloating."
"I believe that," admitted Lincoln. "But that changes nothing."
"You understand our position, Lincoln. If we prevented you from trying, well, you might have succeeded, and we'd never know the benefits of your success. It was your idea, and you wanted to try. But don't feel too broken. Others have tried."
"Small consolation. Knowing that another man is starving will not put food in my belly." Lincoln stood up, dusted off his jacket, and left the office.