May it not be because they look at everything animate and inanimate from a selfish standpoint, with the query in their minds, "How does that affect me ?" The old definition of a bore as "a person who talks so much of himself that he gives you no chance to talk of yourself," may apply not only to the bore, but to the bored.

When you find yourself wearied and uninterested, be honest enough to examine yourself calmly, and see if the reason is not because your _vis-a-vis_ is not talking about anything which interests you especially.

Should he turn the conversation upon your favorite occupation or pastime, or even upon your personal likes and dislikes (which, by the way, might be an infinite bore to him), would he not at once become entertaining?
Viewed from a selfish and politic standpoint, it is to our interest to make the best of everybody.

We cannot always pick and choose our associates in the school of life, and must frequently be thrown with people whom we do not "take to," and, worse still, who may not "take to" us.

Since this be true, would it not be better for us to look at their pleasantest side, and, by making ourselves agreeable to them, insure their friendly feeling for us?
The old saying that the good-will of a dog is preferable to his ill-will, may still be quoted with regard to many specimens of the _genus homo_ which we daily meet.
There is one case in which I make an exception to all that I have said--namely, when from the first, there is--not a feeling of dislike, but a strong, uncontrollable personal antipathy.