Life of Johnson.
JJE SAID, “ Goldsmith should not be for ever attempting to shine in conversation : he has not temper for it, he is so much mortified when he fails. Sir, a game of jokes is composed partly of skiff, partly of chance, a man may be beat at times by one«who has not the tenth part of his wit. Now Goldsmith’s putting himself against another is like a man laying a hundred to one who cannot spare the hundred. It is not worth a man’s while. A man should not lay a hundred to one unless he can easily spare it, though he has a hundred chances for him; he can get but a guinea, and he may lose a hundred. Goldsmith is in this state. When he contends, if he gets the better it is a very little addition to a man of his literary reputation; if he does not get the better, he is miserably vexed.”
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Bibliographic details
Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20281, 16 April 1934, Page 6
Word Count
159Life of Johnson. Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20281, 16 April 1934, Page 6
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