You play the spaniel, and think with wagging of your tongue to win me.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
If we did not flatter ourselves the flattery from others would not harm us.
—Common Proverb
Look closely at those who patronize you. Half are unfeeling, half untaught.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
We sometimes imagine we hate flattery, but we only hate the way we are flattered.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Flattery makes friends and truth makes enemies.
—Spanish Proverb
He that flatters you more than you desire either has deceived you or wishes to deceive.
—Italian Proverb
Flattery is a base coin which gains currency only from our vanity.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
There is no flattery so adroit or effectual as that of implicit assent.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
He does me double wrong
That wounds me with the flatteries of his tongue.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Don’t flatter the rich, or appear to willing before the great.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
Just praise is only a debt, but flattery is a present.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
It has well been said that the arch-flatterer, with whom all petty flatterers have intelligence, is a man’s self.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
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
Flatter not thyself in thy faith in God, if thou hast not charity for thy neighbor; I think not thou hast charity for thy neighbor, if thou wantest faith in God.—Where they are not both together, they are both wanting; they are both dead if once divided.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
Let flattery, the handmaid of the vices, be far removed.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
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
Some there are who profess to despise all flattery, but even these are, nevertheless, to be flattered, by being told that they do despise it.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Flattery is like friendship in show, but not in fruit.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
To be flattered is grateful, even when we know that our praises are not believed by those who pronounce them; for they prove at least our power, and show that our favor is valued, since it is purchased by the meanness of falsehood.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Avoid flatterers, for they are thieves in disguise.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Philosopher, Political Leader
For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
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
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
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
I cannot think of any character below the flatterer, except he who envies him.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
A fool flatters himself, a wise man flatters the fool.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
There is no tongue that flatters like a lover’s; and yet in the exaggeration of his feelings, flattery seems to him commonplace.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Self-love is the greatest of all flatterers.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
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
Allow no man to be so free with you as to praise you to your face.—Your vanity, by this means, will want its food, but at the same time your passion for esteem will be more fully gratified; men will praise you in their actions; where you now receive one compliment, you will then receive twenty civilities.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
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