Every other author may aspire to praise; the lexicographer can only hope to escape reproach, and even this negative recompense has been yet granted to very few.

Summary

This quote highlights the unique challenge faced by lexicographers, who strive to create comprehensive dictionaries of words. While other authors may desire acclaim for their work, lexicographers can only hope to avoid criticism. In fact, only a select few have managed to achieve even the modest achievement of escaping reproach for their lexicons. This emphasizes the difficulty of the lexicographer's task, which involves meticulous research and documentation to accurately capture the ever-evolving nature of language. Despite the inherent challenges, lexicographers persist in their pursuit of creating reliable and invaluable linguistic resources.

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