I believe that my friends would have forgiven me for writing books – even excellent books – because such a… — Jean Jacques Rousseau

I believe that my friends would have forgiven me for writing books – even excellent books – because such a reputation was attainable by themselves; but they were unable to forgive me for having composed an opera, or for its brilliant success, because not one of them was capable of following the same career, or aspiring to the same honour.

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