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Essays in Little by Andrew Lang
page 200 of 209 (95%)
is not the question for you; the question for you is whether you
will circulate news that is false, probably, and spiteful,
certainly.

In short, the whole affair regards yourself more than it regards the
world. Plenty of poison is sold: is it well for you to be one of
the merchants? Is it the business of an educated gentleman to live
by the trade of an eavesdropper and a blab? In the Memoirs of M.
Blowitz he tells you how he began his illustrious career by
procuring the publication of remarks which M. Thiers had made to
him. He then "went to see M. Thiers, not without some
apprehension." Is that the kind of emotion which you wish to be
habitual in your experience? Do you think it agreeable to become
shame-faced when you meet people who have conversed with you
frankly? Do you enjoy being a sneak, and feeling like a sneak? Do
you find blushing pleasant? Of course you will soon lose the power
of blushing; but is that an agreeable prospect? Depend on it, there
are discomforts in the progress to the brazen, in the journey to the
shameless. You may, if your tattle is political, become serviceable
to men engaged in great affairs. They may even ask you to their
houses, if that is your ambition. You may urge that they condone
your deeds, and are even art and part in them. But you must also be
aware that they call you, and think you, a reptile. You are not one
of those who will do the devil's work without the devil's wages; but
do you seriously think that the wages are worth the degradation?

Many men think so, and are not in other respects bad men. They may
even be kindly and genial. Gentlemen they cannot be, nor men of
delicacy, nor men of honour. They have sold themselves and their
self-respect, some with ease (they are the least blamable), some
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