It is never best to bestow encomiums on our friends which are too
brilliant for them, in order to hide their defects: for by this means we
frequently bring failings to light, which would otherwise have been
unobserved; and so defeat the end we aim at. This remark was suggested
by the following anecdote:
A young lady, not long since, with a view to represent her brother, who
was a mere dunce, as a person of great learning, took occasion to say,
in a large assembly, that, “For her part, she was very fond of reading;
but Johnny’s books being chiefly _Latin_ or _French_ authors, they
afforded her little or no amusement at all.” “Then,” said a gentleman
present, who knew his abilities, “I cannot see what use they can be to
him, for he hardly understands English.”