"I daresay I gave myself airs as editor of that confounded _Museum_, and proposed to educate the public taste, to diffuse morality and sound literature throughout the nation, and to pocket a liberal salary in return for my services.

I daresay I printed my own sonnets, my own tragedy, my own verses....

I daresay I wrote satirical articles....
I daresay I made a gaby of myself to the world.

Pray, my good friend, hast thou never done likewise?
If thou hast never been a fool, be sure thou wilt never be a wise man." Thackeray was quite aware of his early weaknesses, and in the maturity of life knew well that he had not been precociously wise.

He delighted so to tell his friends, and he delighted also to tell the public, not meaning that any but an inner circle should know that he was speaking of himself.