Courage and truth made him indifferent to fashion and popularity.

Popularity was not his aim.

His aim was to tell people what was for their good, whether they would hear or whether they would forbear.

Froude had so much confidence in the essential greatness of the man that he did not hesitate to show him as he was, not a prodigy of impossible perfection, but a sterling character and a lofty genius.

Therefore his portrait lives, and will live, when biographies written for flattery or for edification have been consigned to boxes or to lumber-rooms.
Froude was only following the principles laid down by Carlyle himself.