Or maybe, he modestly declines to include himself outright among those who have deepened into something akin to the voice of God.

"He is, as we all are, blind to the strengths and limits of his current, later self: but is pretty good at diagnosing himself, when young." Peter, this is very much the statement of a young man. I have found that as I age (and as friends and acquaintances age) I am pleased to discover my strengths and weaknesses. This knowledge helps me to define myself and more importantly enables me to focus more clearly on my goals. This is not the same as becoming more conservative or even more realistic, it is knowing what matters. And it means having the ability to be amused at the the idealism of youth. It seems to me (and it has been years since I read Goethe) that all of this is implied in his discussion of himself as a young man.