of hope and despair, wearing out my own strength. My life was full of sadness, and hope seldom shone upon my youth.
"Thus it came about that in the year 1825, after passing through severe mental conflicts, and realising that no one shared my view, or, if he did, would dare to act, I swore to myself that I, relying not upon my talents, but on the purity of my intentions and on my constancy, would devote myself wholly to the work of calling my country back to life. I was cheered by a few hopeful signs, but I resolved that even if I remained alone or perished in the struggle, I would unhesitatingly tread the path which the spirit within me pointed out. After loyally serving my king during my military career, I would dedicate the rest of my life to my country, and I stepped out upon the field of public life, so thickly strewn with thorns, resolved that I, if no one else, would try to revive my country's former dignity, and would devote all my life and energy to the task."
Three main characteristics gave Széchenyi's work its epoch-making value. The first is that he directed the attention of the nation to financial interests. There had been eminent statesmen and politicians before Széchenyi and there were others contemporary with him, but they were chiefly jurists, and hardly any one recognised th e importance of political economy, industry, commerce and means of communication, the very things upon which Hungary's future largely depended. Széchenyi's political faith was that Hungary must become more wealthy in order that she might become free and cultured. He awoke the nation from the torpor into which it had fallen and bade it cease to ponder over its rights and the infractions of them, and turn to the more important problem of reviving its prosperity.
