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About this quote

What does it mean?
Writers often exchange polite words that lack sincerity.
In plain terms
Authors pretend to be polite to each other.
What can you take from it?
Professional courtesy often hides true feelings.

Where it applies

  • reviews
  • public events
  • correspondence

Putting it to work

  • observe interactions
  • be authentic

Questions to consider

  • Is politeness always fake?
  • How do peers interact?

Another view

Many authors maintain genuine friendships.

More from Samuel Johnson

  1. It is always observable that silence propagates itself, and that the longer talk has been suspended, the more difficult it is to find any thing to say.

    Permalink to quote #4
  2. A lawyer has no business with the justice or injustice of the cause which he undertakes, unless his client asks his opinion, and then he is bound to give it ho…

    Permalink to quote #6
  3. Studious to please, yet not ashamed to fail.

    Permalink to quote #3

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