Therecan be no doubt that the average man blames much more than he praises. Hisinstinct is to blame. If he is satisfied he says nothing; if he is not, hemost illogically kicks up a row.
The ear tends to be lazy, craves the familiar and is shocked by the unexpected; the eye, on the other hand, tends to be impatient, craves the novel and is bored by repetition.
I hold it to be a proof of great prudence for men toabstain from threats and insulting words toward an enemy, for neither ...diminishes the strength of the enemy; but the one makes him more cautious,and the other increases his hatred of you and makes him