The public often widely differ from the individual, and a century's opinion may intervene between them.

The fate of genius is sometimes that of the Athenian sculptor, who submitted his colossal Minerva to a private party for inspection.

Before the artist they trembled for his daring chisel, and the man of genius smiled; behind him they calumniated, and the man of genius forgave.

Once fixed in a public place, in the eyes of the whole city, the statue was the Divinity! There is a certain distance at which opinions, as well as statues, must be viewed.
But enough of those defects of men of genius which often attend their conversations.

Must we then bow to authorial dignity, and kiss hands, because they are inked?
Must we bend to the artist, who considers us as nothing unless we are canvas or marble under his hands?
Are there not men of genius the grace of society and the charm of their circle?
Fortunate men! more blest than their brothers; but for this, they are not the more men of genius, nor the others less.