"A man is very apt to complain of the ingratitude of those who have risen far above him. A man when he gets into a higher sphere, into other habits of life, cannot keep up all his former connections. Then, Sir, those who knew him formerly upon a level with themselves, may think that they ought still to be treated as on a level, which cannot be; and an acquaintance in a former situation may bring out things which it would be very disagreeable to have mentioned before higher company, though, perhaps, everybody knows of them."
Samuel Johnson

January 1, 1970

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Added on April 10, 2026
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Original Language: English

Sources

(28 March 1776) p. 296

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Samuel_Johnson