’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