Similarly the effect of Johnson in making Boswell more respectable was produced less by example than by dislike of affectation. Johnson was pre-eminently a conformist; and Boswell desired the same happy state for himself. But Johnson was honest in his conformity, and he cared less for the conformity than for the honesty. And so he was able, when he saw Boswell affecting sentiments which he did not wholly feel, to reprove him. It was not that the sentiments in themselves were not good sentiments, for they often were, but that in Boswell they were unreal. _Boswell_: 'Perhaps, Sir, I should be the less happy for being in Parliament. I never would sell my vote, and I should be vexed if things went wrong.' _Johnson_: 'That's cant, Sir. It would not vex you more in the House than in the Gallery: publick affairs vex no man.' Boswell was probably annoyed at this retort; it is very annoying to be told the truth about oneself. He now tries to make Johnson admit that he has been vexed himself 'by all the turbulence of this reign.' _Johnson_: 'Sir, I have never slept an hour less, nor ate an ounce less meat. I would have knocked the factious dogs on the head, to be sure; but I was not _vexed_.' The argument is too strong: _Boswell_: 'I declare, Sir, upon my honour, I did imagine I was vexed, and took a pride in it; but it _was_, perhaps, cant; for I own I neither ate less, nor slept less.' _Johnson_: 'My dear friend, clear your _mind_ of cant. You may _talk_ as other people do; you may say to a man, "Sir, I am your most humble servant." ... You may _talk_ in this manner; it is a mode of talking in society: but don't _think_ foolishly.'