"There is a strange taboo in our society against ending something merely because it is not pleasant -- life, love, a conversation, you name it, the etiquette is that you must begin in ignorance & persevere in the face of knowledge, and though I naturally believe that this is profoundly wrong it's not nice to go around constantly offending people."
Ludo falls into the category of offensive. He is able to recognize his own ability to be exceptional by defying boundaries and following his desire, but Ludo fails to recognize that this exception is open to everyone who wishes it. Ludo is not peculiarly gifted; he's just taken advantage of his opportunities to use education as a very serious tool of self-betterment.
"The master swordsman isn't interested in killing people. He only wants to perfect his art."
Along his journey into adulthood, Ludo is called upon to abandon some of his juvenile impulses, one of which is to view life as a movie. He believes he can be the noble hero, killing in the name of justice. Although thankfully he never does, he is corrected by masters along the way.
"I got home and I thought I should stop leading so aimless an existence. It is harder than you might think to stop leading an existence, and if you can't do that the only thing you can do is try to introduce an element of purposefulness. . ."
Ludo is a decisive young man. Once he recognizes that he is complete if full of untapped potential, he decides to accept responsibility for himself. He determines to make something of his life, beyond pure ambition for ambition's sake.
"If you're a salesman you have to deal with yourself the way you are. Not how you'd like to be."
Ludo's journey into adulthood is also one of self-acceptance. He comes to recognize that his judgement and constant criticism, while a valuable tool, is preventing him from living a fulfilling life and relating well to other people. Comparing himself to a salesman, Ludo deliberately and painfully looks at himself and agrees to accept what he finds.
