Praise does wonders for the sense of hearing.
—Anonymous
No one was probably ever injured by having his good qualities made the subject of judicious praise. The virtues, like plants, reward the attention bestowed upon them by growing more and more thrifty. A lad who is often told that he is a good boy will in time grow ashamed to exhibit the qualities of a bad one. Words of praise, indeed, are almost as necessary to warm a child into a genial life as acts of kindness and affection. Judicious praise is to children what the sun is to flowers.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
Some writers take to drink, others take to audiences.
—Gore Vidal (1925–48) American Novelist, Essayist, Journalist, Playwright
Naturalness is the easiest thing in the world to acquire, if you will forget yourself-forget about the impression you are trying to make.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
The praise that comes from love does not make us vain, but more humble.
—J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish Novelist, Dramatist
Every one that has been long dead has a due proportion of praise allotted him, in which, whilst he lived, his friends were too profuse and his enemies too sparing.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
There are two things people want more than sex and money—recognition and praise.
—Mary Kay Ash (1918–2001) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Applause abates diligence.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
We all are imbued with the love of praise.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
O popular applause! what heart of man is proof against thy sweet seducing charms? The wisest and the best feel urgent need of all their caution in thy gentlest gales; but swell’d into a gust—who then, alas! with all his canvas set, and inexpert, and therefore heedless, can withstand thy power?
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
Whenever you commend, add your reasons for doing so; it is this which distinguishes the approbation of a man of sense from the flattery of sycophants and admiration of fools.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
If people did not compliment one another there would be little society.
—Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–47) French Moralist, Essayist, Writer
The act of divine worship is the inestimable privilege of man, the only created being who bows in humility and adoration.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian
People blame themselves for the purpose of being praised.
—Common Proverb
If you achieve success, you will get applause, and if you get applause, you will hear it. My advice to you concerning applause is this; enjoy it but never quite believe it.
—Robert Montgomery (1904–81) American Film, Television Actor, Director, Producer
It is not for minds like ours to give or to receive flatter; yet the praises of sincerity have ever been permitted to the voice of friendship.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
An honest man is hurt by praise unjustly bestowed.
—French Proverb
The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
An audience is never wrong. An individual member of it may be an imbecile, but a thousand imbeciles together in the dark—that is critical genius.
—Billy Wilder (1906–2002) American Filmmaker
A man is never more serious than when he praise himself.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
Praising what is lost makes the remembrance dear.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
When I was praised I lost my time, for instantly I turned around to look at the work I had thought slightly of, and that day I made nothing new.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Man, so long as he remains free, has no more constant and agonizing anxiety than find as quickly as possible someone to worship.
—Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821–81) Russian Novelist, Essayist, Writer
I never failed to convince an audience that the best thing they could do was to go away.
—Thomas Love Peacock (1785–1866) English Satirist, Novelist, Author
Admiration is our polite recognition of another’s resemblance to ourselves.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Praise, of all things, is the most powerful excitement to commendable actions, and animates us in our enterprises.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
To praise is an investment in happiness.
—George Madison Adams (1837–1920) American Politician, Military Leader
It is no flattery to give a friend a due character; for commendation is as much the duty of a friend as reprehension.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
The meanest, most contemptible kind of praise is that which first speaks well of a man, and then qualifies it with a “but.”
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
In my wide association in life, meeting with many and great men in various parts of the world, I have yet to find the man, however great or exalted his station, who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than he would ever do under a spirit of criticism.
—Charles M. Schwab (1862–1939) American Businessperson
In doing what we ought we deserve no praise, because it is our duty.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
Some natures are too good to be spoiled by praise.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Men sometimes feel injured by praise because it assigns a limit to their merit; few people are modest enough not to take offense that one appreciates them.
—Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–47) French Moralist, Essayist, Writer
Women are never disarmed by compliments. Men always are.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
A word of encouragement during failure is worth more than a whole book of praises after a success.
—Anonymous
Praise in the beginning is agreeable enough, and we receive it as a favor; but when it comes in great quantities, we regard it only as a debt, which nothing but our merit could extort.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
A truly worthy man should avoid naming himself; Christian piety annihilates the worldly me; worldly civility hides and suppresses it.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner, for it was not sent him of the Lord.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
I have believed the best of every man. And find that to believe is enough to make a bad man show him at his best, or even a good man swings his lantern higher.
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939) Irish Poet, Dramatist
We thirst for approbation, yet cannot forgive the approver.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
They are the most frivolous and superficial of mankind, who can be much delighted with that praise which they themselves know to be altogether unmerited.
—George Goodman (b.1930) American Economist, Author
The sweetest sound of all is praise.
—Xenophon (c.430–c.354 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
If one man praises you, a thousand will repeat the praise.
—Japanese Proverb
Eulogy. Praise of a person who has either the advantages of wealth and power, or the consideration to be dead.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
When we disclaim praise, it is only showing our desire to be praised a second time.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Applause is the only appreciated interruption.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
To say, “well done” to any bit of good work is to take hold of the powers which have made the effort and strengthen them beyond our knowledge.
—Phillips Brooks (1835–93) American Episcopal Clergyman, Author
Praise not people to their faces, to the end that they may pay thee in the same coin. This is so thin a cobweb, that it may with little difficulty be seen through; ’tis rarely strong enough to catch flies of any considerable magnitude.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
What every genuine philosopher (every genuine man, in fact) craves most is praise—although the philosophers generally call it recognition!
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
Consider how many do not even know your name, and how many will soon forget it, and how those who now praise you will presently blame you.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher