No matter how busy you are, you must take time to make the other person feel important.
—Mary Kay Ash (1918–2001) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Be not too great a niggard in the commendations of him that professes thy own quality; if he deserve thy praise, thou hast discovered thy judgment; if not, thy modesty; honor either returns or reflects to the giver.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
Whom the gods wish to destroy they first call promising.
—Cyril Connolly (1903–74) British Literary Critic, Writer
Among the smaller duties of life, I hardly know any one more important than that of not praising where praise is not due. Reputation is one of the prizes for which men contend: it produces more labor and more talent than twice the wealth of a country could ever rear up. It is the coin of genius, and it is the imperious duty of every man to bestow it with the most scrupulous justice and the wisest economy.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
A word of encouragement during failure is worth more than a dictionary of praise after success.
—Unknown
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
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
That man is great, and he alone,
Who serves a greatness not his own,
For neither praise nor pelf:
Content to know and be unknown:
Whole in himself.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Half uttered praise is to the curious mind, as to the eye half veiled beauty is more precious than the whole.
—Joanna Baillie (1762–1851) Scottish Playwright, 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
To praise is an investment in happiness.
—George Madison Adams (1837–1920) American Politician, Military Leader
You do ill if you praise, but worse if you censure what you do not rightly understand.
—Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian Polymath, Painter, Sculptor, Inventor, Architect
Praise follows truth afar off, and only overtakes her at the grave; plausibility clings to her skirts and holds her back till then.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
I know that there is an eye that watches all of us. There is a judgment that weighs everything we do. And before this great force, which is greater than any government, I stand in awe and I kneel in respect. And it is to this great judgment that I dedicate this next song.
—Leonard Cohen (1934–2016) Canadian Singer, Songwriter, Poet, Novelist
Admiration is our polite recognition of another’s resemblance to ourselves.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Praise never gives us much pleasure unless it concur with our own opinion, and extol us for those qualities in which we chiefly excel.
—David Hume (1711–76) Scottish Philosopher, Historian
Compliments cost nothing, yet many pay dear for them.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Praise from an enemy is the most pleasing of all commendations.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
A man who does not love praise is not a full man.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Criticism is more effective when it sounds like praise.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
Praise shames me, for I secretly beg for it.
—Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) Bengali Poet, Polymath
If people did not compliment one another there would be little society.
—Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–47) French Moralist, Essayist, Writer
Desert being the essential condition of praise, there can be no reality in the one without the other.
—Washington Allston (1779–1843) American Landscape Painter
Let another praise you and not your own mouth, a stranger and not your own lips.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
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
Please all, and you will please none.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
Discourse on virtue and they pass by in droves. Whistle and dance the shimmy, and you’ve got an audience.
—Diogenes Laertius (f.3rd Century CE) Biographer of the Greek Philosophers
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
Great tranquility of heart is his who cares for neither praise nor blame.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
Praise, more divine than prayer; prayer points our ready path to heaven; praise is already there.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet