When a Guinea trader was told by Sir Godfrey Kneller, in the presence of Pope, that he saw before him two of the greatest men in the world, he replied: "I don't know how great you may be, but I don't like your looks.

I have often bought a man much better than both of you together, all bones and muscles, for ten guineas!" Although Rochefoucauld, in one of his maxims, says that there is something that is not altogether disagreeable to us in the misfortunes of even our best friends, it is only the small and essentially mean nature that finds pleasure in the disappointment, and annoyance at the success of others.

There are, unhappily, for themselves, persons so constituted that they have not the heart to be generous.

The most disagreeable of all people are those who "sit in the seat of the scorner." Persons of this sort often come to regard the success of others, even in a good work, as a kind of personal offence.

They cannot bear to hear another praised, especially if he belong to their own art, or calling, or profession.