Baloney is flattery laid on so thick it cannot be true, and blarney is flattery so thin we love it.
—Fulton J. Sheen (1895–1979) American Catholic Religious Leader, Theologian
It is easier and handier for men to flatter than to praise.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
Flattery is all right so long as you don’t inhale.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
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
The lie that flatters I abhor the most.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
Flattery is a form of hatred.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
The most skilful flattery is to let a person talk on, and be a listener.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
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
The most subtle flattery a woman can receive is that conveyed by actions, not by words.
—Suzanne Curchod (1739–94) French-Swiss Salonist, Writer
We swallow with one gulp the lie that flatters us, and drink drop by drop the truth which is bitter to us.
—Denis Diderot (1713–84) French Philosopher, Writer
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
Adroit observers will find that some who affect to dislike flattery may yet be flattered indirectly by a well-seasoned abuse and ridicule of their rivals.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
He does me double wrong
That wounds me with the flatteries of his tongue.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
When flatterers meet the devil goes to dinner.
—Daniel Defoe (1659–1731) English Writer, Journalist, Pamphleteer
Don’t flatter the rich, or appear to willing before the great.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
What valor cannot win, flattery may.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
A flatterer is one who says things to your face that he wouldn’t say behind your back.
—Unknown
Let those flatter who fear; it is not an American art
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Flattery is never so agreeable as to our blind side; commend a fool for his wit, or a knave for his honesty, and they will receive you into their bosoms.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
Flattery is a counterfeit money which, but for vanity, would have no circulation
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Imitation is the sincerest of flattery.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
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
The skilful class of flatterers praise the discourse of an ignorant friend and the face of a deformed one.
—Juvenal (c.60–c.136 CE) Roman Poet
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
He that flatters you more than you desire either has deceived you or wishes to deceive.
—Italian Proverb
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
He that is much flattered soon learns to flatter himself.—We are commonly taught our duty by fear or shame, but how can they act upon a man who hears nothing but his own praises?
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Every flatterer lives at the expense of him who listens to him.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
Flattery was formerly a vice; it has now become the fashion.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
You play the spaniel, and think with wagging of your tongue to win me.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
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
Flattery makes friends and truth makes enemies.
—Spanish Proverb
A fool flatters himself, a wise man flatters the fool.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
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
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
Between flattery and admiration there often flows a river of contempt.
—Minna Antrim (1861–1950) American Writer, Epigrammist
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
Let flattery, the handmaid of the vices, be far removed.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Flattery is like friendship in show, but not in fruit
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
I cannot think of any character below the flatterer, except he who envies him.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
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
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
My opinion, my conviction, gains immensely in strength and sureness the minute a second mind as adopted it.
—Malcolm Muggeridge (1903–90) English Journalist, Author, Media Personality, Satirist
Self-love is the greatest of all flatterers.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
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
Of all wild beasts preserve me from a tyrant; and of all tame, from a flatterer.
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637) English Dramatist, Poet, Actor
Look closely at those who patronize you. Half are unfeeling, half untaught.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
There is no flattery so adroit or effectual as that of implicit assent.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
The reason that adulation is not displeasing is that, though untrue, it shows one to be of consequence enough, in one way or other, to induce people to lie.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet