Flattery is a form of hatred.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
What really flatters a man is that you think him worth flattering.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
I cannot think of any character below the flatterer, except he who envies him.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
The art of flatterers is to take advantage of the foibles of the great, to foster their errors, and never to give advice which may annoy.
—Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright
He that flatters you more than you desire either has deceived you or wishes to deceive.
—Italian Proverb
But it is hard to know them from friends, they are so obsequious and full of protestations; for a wolf resembles a dog, so doth a flatterer a friend.
—Walter Raleigh (1552–1618) English Courtier, Navigator, Poet
Flattery, though a base coin, is the necessary pocket-money at court; where, by custom and consent, it has obtained such a currency, that it is no longer a fraudulent, but a legal payment.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
It is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are the result of previous study?
—Jane Austen (1775–1817) English Novelist
There is scarcely any man, how much soever he may despise the character of a flatterer, but will condescend in the meanest manner to flatter himself.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
Women who are either indisputably beautiful, or indisputably ugly, are best flattered upon the score of their understandings; but those who are in a state of mediocrity are best flattered upon their beauty, or at least their graces: for every woman who is not absolutely ugly, thinks herself handsome.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
Just praise is only a debt, but flattery is a present.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Many lick before they bite.
—Common Proverb
He that loves to be flattered is worthy of the flatterer.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
When the flatterer pipes, then the devil dances.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
There is no flattery so adroit or effectual as that of implicit assent.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Flattery is the worst and falsest way of showing our esteem
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Nothing flatters a man as much as the happiness of his wife; he is always proud of himself as the source of it.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me and I may be forced to love you.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
Flattery will get you nowhere.
—Common Proverb
Allow no man to be so free with you as to praise you to your face.—Your vanity, by this means, will want its food, but at the same time your passion for esteem will be more fully gratified; men will praise you in their actions; where you now receive one compliment, you will then receive twenty civilities.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
Don’t flatter the rich, or appear to willing before the great.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
I would rather hear the pleased laugh of a child over some feature of my exhibition than receive as I did the flattering compliments of the Prince of Wales.
—P. T. Barnum (1810–91) American Businessperson, Entertainer
There is no detraction worse than to overpraise a man; for if his worth prove short of what report doth speak of him, his own actions are ever giving the lie to his honor.
—Owen Feltham (1602–1668) English Essayist
Flatter not thyself in thy faith in God, if thou hast not charity for thy neighbor; I think not thou hast charity for thy neighbor, if thou wantest faith in God.—Where they are not both together, they are both wanting; they are both dead if once divided.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
I will praise any man that will praise me.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Flattery makes friends and truth makes enemies.
—Spanish Proverb
The lie that flatters I abhor the most.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
We love flattery, even when we see through it, and are not deceived by it, for it shows that we are of importance enough to be courted.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Know thyself, thine evil as well as thy good, and flattery shall not harm thee; her speech shall be a warning, a humbling, and a guide; for wherein thou lackest most, there chiefly will thy sycophant commend thee.
—Martin Farquhar Tupper (1810–89) English Poet, Writer
Look closely at those who patronize you. Half are unfeeling, half untaught.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Flattery is often a traffic of mutual meanness, where, although both parties intend deception, neither are deceived.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
The most subtle flattery a woman can receive is that conveyed by actions, not by words.
—Suzanne Curchod (1739–94) French-Swiss Salonist, Writer
It is easier and handier for men to flatter than to praise.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
Flattery is a kind of bad money, to which our vanity gives us currency.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver; and adulation is not of more service to the people than to kings.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
There is no tongue that flatters like a lover’s; and yet in the exaggeration of his feelings, flattery seems to him commonplace.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Flattery is all right so long as you don’t inhale.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
We sometimes think we hate flattery, when we only hate the manner in which we have been flattered.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Nature has hardly formed a woman ugly enough to be insensible to flattery upon her person; if her face is so shocking that she must in some degree be conscious of it, her figure and her air, she trusts, make ample amends for it.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
The only benefit of flattery is that by hearing what we are not, we may be instructed what we ought to be.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Flattery is telling the other person precisely what he thinks about himself
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
Flatterers are the worst kind of enemies.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
One should always speak sweet words that please the person from whom we expect a favor. To hunt for a deer, the hunter sings a melodious song first.
—Chanakya Neeti Anthology of Indian Aphorisms
It has well been said that the arch-flatterer, with whom all petty flatterers have intelligence, is a man’s self.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Flatterers look like friends, as wolves like dogs.
—George Chapman (c.1560–1634) English Poet, Playwright
The most skilful flattery is to let a person talk on, and be a listener.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
The more we love our friends, the less we flatter them; it is by excusing nothing that pure love shows itself.
—Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright
Deference before company is the genteelest kind of flattery. The flattery of epistles affects one less, as they cannot be shown without an appearance of vanity. Flattery of the verbal kind is gross. In short, applause is of too coarse a nature to be swallowed in the gross, though the extract of tincture be ever so agreeable.
—William Shenstone (1714–63) British Poet, Landscape Gardener
None are more taken in by flattery than the proud, who wish to be the first and are not.
—Baruch Spinoza (1632–77) Dutch Philosopher, Theologian
He who says he hates every kind of flattery, and says it in earnest, certainly does not yet know every kind of flattery.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist