The Open University | Study at the OU | About the OU | Research at the OU | Search the OU Listen to this page | Accessibility
'Boswell. "But, Sir, may there not be very good conversation without a contest for superiority." Johnson. "No animated conversation, Sir; for it cannot be but one or other will come off superior. I do not mean that the victor must have the better of the argument, for he may take the weak side; but his superiority of parts and knowledge will necessarily appear: and he to whom he thus shows himself superiour is lessened in the eyes of the young men. You know it was said, [italics] 'Mallem cum Scaligero errare quam cum Clavio recte sapere [end italics]' In the same manner take Bentley's and Jason de Nores' Comments upon Horace, you will admire Bentley more when wrong than Jason when right."