writing from maggie 13
In the first sentence of paragraph 24, "thought” and "and though", "sometimes nasty, sometimes needy, sometimes nice" sounds great when I was reading. Showoffs always run the risk of being thought immodest although the showing off is sometimes nasty/needy/nice. They wouldn't like to consider the results of showing off. What they want is just showing off which will make them feel better. The writer uses the word "perhaps" to persuade readers, especially the people who get addicted of showing off to be modesty.The "bait" in the last sentence of paragraph 24 means something that human being can be easily attracted and tend to indulge themselves. "angle" is rather a simple word for all of us. But I know that it doesn't mean its simple meaning in this passage. I'd like to explain "angle" here into "long for" or "want".I cannot understand the words Lord chesterfield wrote to his son. While I do think maybe there is the answer for my problem in following paragraph, so I stopping thinking about it or Looking for Chinese translation and go on my reading. There is a word "restrained" in the following sentence and I think I just find the answer. The words of Lord Chesterfield means "to be restrained".At the last paragraph, the author says please forgive each other --for ourselves.This is just my understanding: because we always cannot help showing off and so the others. Why can't we are forgivable? And why can't others be forgivable?
And that why the author use "perhaps" for persuading not "please". 