Dostoyevsky believes that men of perception are so understanding of the world that is surrounding them that they cannot possibly respect themselves while knowing that they are in fact nothing when thinking about their purpose. Men of perception understand that they do not know anything and are stupid which is why they should supposedly not respect themselves and this is why he stays on page 10:
"But, of course that is because I do not respect myself. Can a man of perception respect himself?"
This is true if the man that perceives how inferior he is knows of this ultimate knowledge yet still acts as if he were superior to others. That is when a man of perception cannot respect himself; because of his narcissistic attitude. However, if the man of perception is humble and behaves with courtesy towards those who are not men of perception and without hostility and malice, then he can respect himself because of his ability to be modest.
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