«The Circular Ruins» by Jorge Luis Borges

... ... nothing could be expected from those pupils who passively accepted his teaching but that he might, however, hold hopes for those who from time to time hazarded reasonable doubts about what he taught. The former, although they deserve love and affection, could never become real; the later, in their dim way, were already real.

From time to time, he was troubled by the feeling that all this had already happened, but for the most part his days were happy.

His triumph and his peace were blemished by a touch of weariness.

His life purpose was fulfilled; the man lived on in a kind of ecstasy.

Every father cares for  the child he has begotten—he has allowed—in some moment of confusion and happiness.