Of other fellows' people.—" You never believe much about another
fellow's people until you meet them, because a chap must be an idiot who doesn't try to make them out nicer than anybody else's, only he can never get anyone to listen to what he says."
Of a certain danger in criticism.—" When you are fond of anything, it is simply horrid to be told you are no use at it, or that you are not as much use as you might be if you tried harder. If I was the worst bat in Europe I did not see much good in trying to do decent Latin prose."
Of madness.—" Every day I heard some one say that Hugh was a hopeless madman, and when any one gets called that at school you just think nothing of his tricks, but you certainly don't expect him to behave as if he is really mad."
Of injudicious benevolence.—" It is a great mistake [in elderly ladies] to think that every small boy is greedy, though I know it isn't much use for me to say so.'
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