A nickname is the heaviest stone that the devil can throw at a man. It is a bugbear to the imagination, and, though we do not believe in it, it still haunts our apprehensions.

Summary

This quote suggests that a nickname can have a profound impact on a person's self-perception and be deeply unsettling, even if it is not believed to be true. The metaphorical comparison of a nickname to a stone thrown by the devil emphasizes its weight and negativity. It implies that even though the person may not give credence to the nickname, it continues to persist as a source of fear and unease in their thoughts and worries.

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