Fascinating story, Sean, and one I had never heard before. When I read the comment that sealed Ryleyev's fate, it didn't sound like boasting to me as much as criticizing someone else. And that is a sure way to make enemies.

Now I have seen people manage to do both (brag about themselves while criticizing someone else) in the same sentence, so the two can go hand in hand. Neither are good and, in combination, are particularly irksome. But I think there are a lot of ways to talk favorably about oneself while also talking other people up.