Exaggerated ideas

I do not know that I did well in avoiding my compatriots so completely. I had good reason-- to devote myself entirely to learning the language, studying the genius, and absorbing the thought of the Italian people. But in doing this I almost isolated myself. I formed exaggerated ideas of myself, and when I fell in with Englishmen was raw and irritable, and by too great a sensitivity I was inferior in social life to mediocre young men who were accustomed to live in general society.

 -- from Boswell On The Grand Tour: Italy, Corsica, And France 1765-1766