Where so many hours have been spent in convincing myself that I am right, is there not some reason to fear I may be wrong?

The line expresses a sharp, self-aware skepticism about over-investment in one’s own certainty. If someone has spent “so many hours” persuading themselves they are right, that very effort may signal insecurity or bias rather than truth—an early recognition of motivated reasoning. The question turns introspection into a moral and intellectual check: confidence built through self-argument can be a warning sign, inviting humility and openness to correction. In an Austenian register, it also hints at the social and emotional stakes behind “being right,” where pride, desire, and self-image can quietly shape judgment.