Benjamin N.Cardozo, a celebrated judge and a foregoer of pragmatism, realized the quite revolution of common law thanks to his judicial wisdom and genius.
Possibly the point here is not the sheer quantity but the inner attitude of the Pilgrim: the starets wishes to test his obedience and readiness to fulfil an appointed task without deviation.
In the Gnostic view, the unconscious self of man is consubstantial with the Godhead, but because of a tragic fall it is thrown into a world that is completely alien to its real being.