He wondered at times whether he didn't belong to a class of people secretly convinced they had an arrangement with fate; in return for docility or ingenuous good will they were to be shielded from the worst brutalities in life.
In Saul Bellow's novel "Herzog," the protagonist reflects on his personal beliefs and relationship with fate. He questions if he is part of a group that feels entitled to special treatment from destiny, believing that their compliant nature and genuine intentions will spare them from life's harshest experiences.
This introspection highlights a deeper philosophical concern about the balance between human behavior and the unpredictability of life. The character's pondering suggests a hope that kindness and goodwill can act as a protective barrier against adversity, revealing complex themes of vulnerability and existential contemplation.