10/10/08 ( preface)

I think the quote is saying that young activists aren't always completely secure while they are trying to make a change. Young activists compared the outcome of their efforts to those in the past. Feeling that their work proved to be inadequate, they start to doubt whether or not they are making a change. So basically to conclude this all, when young activists compare their work to those of the past, they start to doubt themselves which makes confidence and faith more necessary.