’Why，Madam，becauseIhavenotthengotthebetterofmybadhumourfromhavingbeenshownthem。Youmustconsider，Madam；

　　beforehandtheymaybebad，aswellasgood。Nobodyhasarighttoputanotherundersuchadifficulty，thathemusteitherhurtthepersonbytellingthetruth，orhurthimselfbytellingwhatisnottrue。’BOSWELL。’Amanoftenshewshiswritingstopeopleofeminence，toobtainfromthem，eitherfromtheirgood-nature，orfromtheirnotbeingabletotellthetruthfirmly，acommendation，ofwhichhemayafterwardsavailhimself。’JOHNSON。’Verytrue，Sir。Thereforetheman，whoisaskedbyanauthour，whathethinksofhiswork，isputtothetorture，andisnotobligedtospeakthetruth；sothatwhathesaysisnotconsideredashisopinion；yethehassaidit，andcannotretractit；andthisauthour，whenmankindarehuntinghimwithacannisterathistail，cansay，“I

　　wouldnothavepublished，hadnotJohnson，orReynolds，orMusgrave，orsomeothergoodjudge，commendedthework。“YetI

　　consideritasaverydifficultquestioninconscience，whetheroneshouldadviseamannottopublishawork，ifprofitbehisobject；

　　forthemanmaysay，“Haditnotbeenforyou，Ishouldhavehadthemoney。“Nowyoucannotbesure；foryouhaveonlyyourownopinion，andthepublickmaythinkverydifferently。’SIRJOSHUA

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