Do not trust the cheering, for those persons would shout as much if you or I were going to be hanged.
—Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658) British Head of State, Military Leader
Insults should be written in the sand, and praises carved in stone.
—Arabic Proverb
Everybody has the right to be left alone but nobody has the right to demand approval.
—Unknown
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
An honest man is hurt by praise unjustly bestowed.
—French Proverb
So long as you are praised think only that you are not yet on your own path but on that of another.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
A man’s inner nature is revealed by what he praises-a man is self-judged by what he says of others. Thus a man is judged by his standards, by what he considers the best. And you can’t find a more crucial test. It reveals the soul.
—Hugo Black (1886–1971) American Politician, Jurist
The more you speak of yourself, the more likely you are to lie.
—Johann Jacob Zimmermann (1644–93) German Nonconformist Theologian, Mathematician, Astronomer
Praise no man too liberally before his face, nor censure him too lavishly behind his back: the one savors of flattery; the other of malice; and both are reprehensible; the true way to advance another’s virtue is to follow it; and the pest means to cry down another’s vice is to decline it.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
The praise that comes from love does not make us vain, but more humble.
—J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish Novelist, Dramatist
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
Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions, but those who kindly reprove thy faults.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
There is not a person we employ who does not, like ourselves, desire recognition, praise, gentleness, forbearance, patience.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
It was a good thing to have a couple of thousand people all rigid and frozen together, in the palm of one’s hand.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
How a little praise warms out of a man the good that is in him, as the sneer of contempt which he feels is unjust chills the ardor to excel.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
There are two modes of establishing our reputation—to be praised by honest men, and to be abused by rogues. It is best, however, to secure the former, because it will invariably be accompanied by the latter.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
A pat on the back is only a few vertebrae removed from a kick in the pants, but is miles ahead in results.
—Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919) American Poet, Journalist
A man is never more serious than when he praise himself.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
We do not content ourselves with the life we have in ourselves; we desire to live an imaginary life in the minds of others, and for this purpose we endeavor to shine.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
It is a great happiness to be praised of them who are most praiseworthy.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
When someone does something good, applaud! You will make two people happy.
—Samuel Goldwyn (1879–1974) Polish-born American Film Producer, Businessperson
One good deed, dying tongueless, slaughters a thousand waiting upon that. Our praises are our wages.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
I know of no manner of speaking so offensive as that of giving praise, and closing it with an exception.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
It is more noble to give yourself completely to one individual than to labor diligently for the salvation of the masses.
—Dag Hammarskjold (1905–61) Swedish Statesman, UN Diplomat
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
Sweet is the scene where genial friendship plays the pleasing game of interchanging praise.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
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 is sometimes a good thing for the diffident and despondent. It teaches them properly to rely on the kindness of others.
—Letitia Elizabeth Landon (1802–38) English Poet, Novelist
Hunger is never delicate; they who are seldom gorged to the full with praise may be safely fed with gross compliments, for the appetite must be satisfied before it is disgusted.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
The applause of a single human being is of great consequence.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
We are motivated by a keen desire for praise, and the better a man is the more he is inspired by glory. The very philosophers themselves, even in those books which they write in contempt of glory, inscribe their names.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Praise undeserved, is satire in disguise.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
Sweet praise is like perfume. It is fine if you don’t swallow it.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American Head of State, Military Leader
To dispense with ceremony is the most delicate mode of conferring a compliment.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
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
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
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
The real satisfaction which praise can afford, is when what is repeated aloud agrees with the whispers of conscience, by showing us that we have not endeavored to deserve well in vain.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
In doing what we ought we deserve no praise, because it is our duty.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
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
Admiration is our polite recognition of another’s resemblance to ourselves.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Desert being the essential condition of praise, there can be no reality in the one without the other.
—Washington Allston (1779–1843) American Poet, Painter
If you treat an individual… as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
The high-minded man is fond of conferring benefits, but it shames him to receive them.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
We thirst for approbation, yet cannot forgive the approver.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Praise makes good people better and bad people worse.
—Common Proverb
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
By recognizing a favorable opinion of yourself, and taking pleasure in it, you in a measure give yourself and your peace of mind into the keeping of another, of whose attitude you can never be certain. You have a new source of doubt and apprehension.
—Charles Cooley (1864–1929) American Sociologist
A heap of epithets is poor praise: the praise lies in the facts, and in the way of telling them.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Trust him little who praises all, him less who censures all, and him least who is indifferent about all.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet