It is a far, far better thing that I do now than I've ever done?

Question:

It is a far, far better thing that I do now than I've ever done?

That is a line from the movie version of the Charles Dickens' classic "A Tale of Two Cities".

Sydney Carton uttered those words as he traded places with Charles Darnay, in the process saving Darnay's life so he could be reunited with his wife Lucie (who Carton also loved). Carton willingly went to the guillotine, knowing his sacrifice meant happiness for the people he cared about.

Have you ever felt tht in this life, you have done something as good?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Many times. The fact my name is Sidney is only a coincidence. The training I recieved as a Canadian Infantry Officer gave me skills most people don't have and the conditioned fast thinking and responses to be able to use them. My working for the subway for 29 years put me in an environment where danger was fairly common. I don't know how many lives I have saved but probably between 20 and 50.

I have disarmed addicts and drunks threatning people, fought fires, performed emergency first aid and rescued people in imminent danger. However I never thought of it as doing a good thing. Duty becomes internalized. I could have been saving the next mother Theresa or the next Hitler. Not for me to judge, or be a spectator. Guess I had to many good examples growing up, or was too well trained.