Do I feel something in his manner? Yes, I feel great solid block rudeness in his manner. He is confident he is right? Yes, when he is very likely wrong!
Adene.
But seriously, don't you feel that he is a big man, and a man who can do whatever he means to do, however difficult?
Rheinhardt.
Bah! and however bad. I do not like your great men; I am not a world conqueror. I am just like other people, and I expect other people to be just like me. I do not overcrush my fellow creatures. A fool contradicts me, and I submit to the argumentation of that fool! [Adene tries to speak, but Rheinhardt checks him with a gesture.] A cow charges upon me, and I run myself away from that cow; I do not say, "I, Rheinhardt, am Almighty!" You say this Sir Carlyon is a great man; you will say Steinmetz is a great man——
Adene.
No, I won't, I'll believe anything you like to tell me about Steinmetz.
Rheinhardt.
You contradict me flatly when I speak! I tell you Steinmetz is an arrogant man, a rash man, an ingenious man, a clumsy man. You show me what you call his road-making experimentations! I tell you that I behold so many miserable assassinates! If he is a great man, I am a great man myself!