Thursday, April 10, 2025

Attempting maxims

From Anecdotal Evidence, a citation of Hazlitt: "Here his maxim almost succeeds:"
The confession of our failings is a thankless office. It savours less of sincerity or modesty than of ostentation. It seems as if we thought our weaknesses as good as other people’s virtues.

"Provocatively true but too long, too blunted. One sentence is usually best. Two will work when the spring is wound sufficiently tight."

Let's sharpen that thing up a bit. We confess proudly, as though our offences were grander than others' virtues.

Give it a shot.

4 comments:

  1. "A confession made in pride is a waste of breath"?

    ReplyDelete
  2. "A man ought to mind his business, in both senses of the term."

    ReplyDelete
  3. "The confession of our failings is often a chance to brag."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Poste in haste, edit in leisure:
      "The confession of our failings is often a good chance to brag."

      Delete