I do not admire such people, but I envy them, because my own mental atmosphere is saturated with shame.

Here are some literary portraits:

Short story: "No Fire Burns" by Avram Davidson.
Novel: _The Porkchoppers_ by Ross Thomas.
Biography: _A Bright Shining Lie_ by Neil Sheehan.
Poem: "Song of the Devil" by W. H. Auden:

Since men are like goods, what are shouldn'ts and shoulds
When you are the Leading Brand?
Let them all drop dead, you're way ahead,
Beat them up if they dare to demand
    What may your intention be,
      Or what might ensue:
    There's a difference in dimension be-
      -tween the rest and you.