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Talking of an acquaintance of ours, whose narratives, which abounded in envious and interesting topicks, were unhappily found to be very fabulous; I mentioned Lord Mansfield's having said to me, "Suppose we believe one half of what he tells". Johnson, "Aye, but we don't know which half to believe. By his lying we lose not only reverence for him, but all comfort in his conversation".
taken from:
Life of Johnson page 466
date:
1783
