“. . . The doctrine of Perseverance is rooted in the simple truth that if you fail to earn your place in the lifeboat, you may find yourself thrown overboard. You are born with a job to do, and you must find it and do it, and there are no excuses for you if you fail through lack of Perseverance.” Robertson Davies Mr. Davies is a Canadian writer whose novels, particularly “The Manticore,” I admire. I like them because one finds bits of wisdom tucked into the story, giving the book a dimension beyond being just a good read.