1,075. Toadies "He that hopes to improve his condition by the favour of another, and either finds no room for the exertion of great qualities or perceives himself excelled by his rivals, will by other expedients endeavour to become agreeable where he cannot be important, and learn, by degrees, to number the art of pleasing among the most useful studies and most valuable acquisitions." Johnson: Rambler #104 (March 16, 1751) Link 1,076. Toadies "No man is much pleased with a companion, who does not increase, in some respect, his fondness for himself; and, therefore, he that wishes rather to be led forward to prosperity by the gentle hand of favour than to force his way by labour and merit must consider with more care how to display his patron's excellences than his own; that, whenever he approaches, he may fill the imagination with pleasing dreams, and chase away disgust and weariness by a perpetual succession of delightful images." Johnson: Rambler #104 (March 16, 1751) Link 1,077. Flattery; Toadies "He that is too desirous to be loved will soon learn to flatter, and, when he has exhausted all the variations of honest praise, and can delight no longer in the civility of truth, he will invent new topics of panegyric, and break out into raptures at virtues and beauties conferred by himself." Johnson: Rambler #104 (March 16, 1751) Link 1,080. Toadies "Every man of high rank is surrounded with numbers, who have no other rule of thought or action than his maxims and his conduct; whom the honour of being numbered among his acquaintance reconciles to all his vices and all his absurdities; and who easily persuade themselves to esteem him, by whose regard they consider themselves as distinguished and exalted." Johnson: Rambler #104 (March 16, 1751) Link 1,081. Greed; Patronage; Toadies; Vanity "It is dangerous for mean minds to venture themselves within the sphere of greatness. Stupidity is soon blinded by the splendour of wealth, and cowardice is easily fettered in the shackles of dependence. To solicit patronage is, at least, in the event, to set virtue to sale. None can be pleased without praise, and few can be praised without falsehood; few can be assiduous without servility, and none can be servile without corruption." Johnson: Rambler #104 (March 16, 1751) Link 1,444. Toadies; Wealth "...flatterers every one will find, who has the power to reward their assiduities. Wherever there is wealth there will be dependence and expectation, and wherever there is dependence there will be an emulation of servility." Johnson: Rambler #189 (January 7, 1752) Link