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
Usually we praise only to be praised.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Praise, more divine than prayer; prayer points our ready path to heaven; praise is already there.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
Praise has different effects, according to the mind it meets with; it makes a wise man modest, but a fool more arrogant, turning his weak brain giddy.
—Owen Feltham (1602–1668) English Essayist
We increase whatever we praise. The whole creation responds to praise, and is glad.
—Charles Fillmore (1854–1948) American New Thought Mystic
I can live for two months on a good compliment.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
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
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
You can’t eat compliments.
—Charles M. Schulz (1922–2000) American Cartoonist, Writer, Artist
I should entertain a mean opinion of myself if all men, or the most part, praised and admired me; it would prove me to be somewhat like them.
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, “Make me feel important.” Not only will you succeed in sales, you will succeed in life.
—Mary Kay Ash (1918–2001) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
It is the greatest possible praise to be praised by a man who is himself deserving of praise.
—Latin Proverb
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
Criticism is more effective when it sounds like praise.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
The sweetest of all sounds is praise.
—Xenophon (c.430–c.354 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
How does it happen, Maecenas, that no one is content with that lot of which he has chosen or which chance has thrown his way, but praises those who follow a different course?
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
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
If people did not compliment one another there would be little society.
—Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–47) French Moralist, Essayist, Writer
Praise is a debt we owe unto the virtue of others, and due unto our own from all whom malice hath not made mutes, or envy struck dumb.
—Thomas Browne (1605–82) English Author, Physician
Please all, and you will please none.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
The applause of a single human being is of great consequence.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Praising what is lost makes the remembrance dear.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
A man is never more serious than when he praise himself.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
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
Get someone else to blow your horn and the sound will carry twice as far.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
There is no belittling worse than to over praise a man.
—Owen Feltham (1602–1668) English Essayist
No ashes are lighter than those of incense, and few things burn out sooner.
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of other men! A weird life it is, indeed, to be living always in somebody else’s imagination, as if that were the only place in which one could at last become real.
—Thomas Merton (1915–68) American Trappist Monk
Sweet is the scene where genial friendship plays the pleasing game of interchanging praise.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
If you’re sincere, praise is effective. If you’re insincere, it’s manipulative.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
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