A companion loves some agreeable qualities which a man may possess, but a friend loves the man himself.
James BoswellRead
Wine makes a man better pleased with himself. I do not say that it makes him more pleasing to others. Sometimes it does. But the danger is, that while a man grows better pleased with himself, he may be growing less pleasing to others. Wine gives a man nothing. It neither gives him knowledge nor wit; it only animates a man, and enables him to bring out what a dread of the company has presented.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Wine may boost self-confidence but can diminish social appeal.
This quote by James Boswell reflects on the idea that while wine can enhance a person's self-satisfaction, it does not necessarily improve their likability to others. Instead, it can unveil aspects of their personality that may have been suppressed out of social anxiety, highlighting the duality of alcohol's effects on one's self-image versus social interactions.
Themes
WineSelf-EsteemSocial InteractionsConfidenceAlcohol
In practice
Example use cases
During a toast at a friend's wedding, you might include this quote to discuss the effects of wine on social gatherings.
More from James Boswell
All quotes →There is nothing worth the wear of winning, but laughter and the love of friends.
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He who has provoked the lash of wit, cannot complain that he smarts from it.
James BoswellRead
Friendship, "the wine of life," should, like a well-stocked cellar, be continually renewed.
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