Your post calls to mind this passage from Ishiguro's the Remains of the Day: "As for myself, I cannot even claim that. You see, I trusted. I trusted his lordsh

Your post calls to mind this passage from Ishiguro's the Remains of the Day: "As for myself, I cannot even claim that. You see, I trusted. I trusted his lordship's wisdom. All those years I served him, I trusted I was doing something worthwhile. I can't even say I made my own mistakes. Really--one has to ask oneself--what dignity is there in that?"