The presence of irony does not necessarily mean that the earnestness is excluded. Only assistant professors assume that.

What our age needs is an honest earnestness which affectionately preserves the tasks, which does not alarm people into wanting to rush pellmell into the highes…

I have just now come from a party where I was its life and soul; witticisms streamed from my lips, everyone laughed and admired me, but I went away - yes, the …

The task must be made difficult, for only the difficult inspires the noble-hearted.