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No. 562. Friday, July 2, 1714. Addison.

'--Praesens, absens ut sies.'
Ter.

_It is a hard and nice Subject for a Man to speak of himself, says Cowley; [1] it grates his own Heart to say anything of Disparagement, and the Reader's Ears to hear any thing of Praise from him._ Let the Tenour of his Discourse be what it will upon this Subject, it generally proceeds from _Vanity_. An ostentatious man will rather relate a blunder or an absurdity he has committed, than be debarred from talking of his own dear person.
Some very great Writers have been guilty of this Fault. It is observed of _Tully_ in particular, that his Works run very much in the First Person, and that he takes all Occasions of doing himself Justice.
'Does he think, says _Brutus_, that his Consulship deserves more Applause than my putting _Caesar_ to Death, because I am not perpetually talking of the Ides of _March_, as he is of the Nones of _December_?'
I need not acquaint my learned Reader, that in the Ides of...   Addison, Joseph

Excerpt from The Spectator, Volumes 1, 2 and 3 With Translations and Index for the Series · This quote is filed under Ostentation · Search on Google Books to find all references and sources for this quotation · Tell us if you know any facts or errors in this quote · Help your friends discover QB

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