Many writers make the mistake of making their readers appear like Lazarus, without any iota of care, throwing down books to readers to crunch as if they are dogs.
Let me take once again a rough parable. Suppose I advertised in the papers that I had a place for any one who was too stupid to be a clerk. Probably I should receive no replies; possibly one. Possibly...
(n.) One given overmuch to egoism or thoughts of self.
(n.) A believer in egoism.
Don't show a friend your gift, or your bag of money if you still want to maintain your relationship, but if nay, go on, and all you'll see is hate and jealousy, and you'll fight with him in the street...
Accept the ego of extraordinary people as they have achieved something but don't accept the ego of ordinary people.
Feeding the ego is starving the wisdom, the choice is yours.
Keep extending hand for friendship. Those alive will grip yours with theirs, while the morally dead will inflate; rubbing their own palms.
It takes two to make a very great career: the man who is great, and the man--almost rarer--who is great enough to see greatness and say so.