From my point of view, he can be called a remarkable man who stands out from those around him by the resourcefulness of his mind, and who knows how to be restrained in the manifestations which proceed from his nature, at the same time conducting himself justly and tolerantly towards the weaknesses of others.

A most excellent person he is, and must be allowed a little for a little conceitedness; but he may well be so, being a man so much above others.

To be upright and to have an imagination: that is enough to be a very good young man.

I'd think, maybe he truly is something extraordinary. He's what he is, that's it. Maybe that makes him strong enough, being what he is.

A man is himself important precisely in proportion that all things seem important to him.

He is able who thinks he is able.

He had thought more than other men, and in matters of the intellect he had that calm objectivity, that certainty of thought and knowledge, such as only really intellectual men have, who have no axe to grind, who never wish to shine, or to talk others down, or to appear always in the right.

A man is often more clever than one other, but not than all others.

He was firmly convinced of his uniqueness in the universe and his general superiority to it, although he was occasionally bothered by the universe’s lack of appreciation.

There is one thing I esteem higher than that; and that is for a man to be self-reliant and sure of himself.

...In his fingers he has more skill than any of the rest of us.

As time passed and he grew to know people better, he began to think of himself as an extraordinary man, one set apart from his fellows. He wanted terribly to make his life a thing of great importance, and as he looked about at his fellow men and saw how like clods they lived it seemed to him that he could not bear to become also such a clod.

I respect him. He has brains and character; and that, I may tell you, is a very unusual combination.

Maybe he's growing up.
Or maybe he just needed the right circumstances to discover the best in himself.