The author's statement does involve some level of contradiction, but it can be resolved by understanding the author's perspective on self-made men. The author recognizes the concept of self-made men, but also highlights the importance of external support and contributions in achieving success.
Step-by-step explanation:
The author's statement that there are no such men as self-made men in the world may appear to contradict the theme and title of the speech, which specifically focuses on the concept of the self-made man. However, the author is not entirely contradicting himself. Instead, he is highlighting the fact that no one achieves success completely on their own, but rather, they rely on the support and opportunities provided by others.
The author states in the text, '...it is impossible for a man to rise materially or to do much good work of any kind, without the sustaining aid of the people.' This indicates that the author recognizes the role of society and the contributions of others in an individual's success.
Therefore, while the author acknowledges the existence of self-made men as a concept, he also emphasizes that the idea of achieving success without any external support is unrealistic.