Three linked essays examine particular modern states of mind and propose a therapeutic approach centered on the exaltation of the self. The author frames each station as a visit to artistic or biographical exemplars — a meditation on a Renaissance genius, a study of a meticulous pastellist, and a reflection invoking the memory of a sensitive young artist — to illuminate distinct psychic conditions. He diagnoses tendencies such as analytic detachment, cosmopolitan restlessness, and a sentimental pessimism that intertwines with religious feeling, and recommends treatments that dignify contemporary lassitude by supplying a noble personal legend and an authoritative companion. Practical counsel alternates with aesthetic and philosophical reflection, aiming to console and ennoble young readers rather than to construct a systematic psychology.