There are two things people want more than sex and money—recognition and praise.
—Mary Kay Ash (1918–2001) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Praise out of season, or tactlessly bestowed, can freeze the heart as much as blame.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
Women are never disarmed by compliments. Men always are.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
The most agreeable recompense which we can receive for things which we have done is to see them known, to have them applauded with praises which honor us.
—Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright
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
The villain’s censure is extorted praise.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
Applause abates diligence.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Naturalness is the easiest thing in the world to acquire, if you will forget yourself-forget about the impression you are trying to make.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
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
If you achieve success, you will get applause, and if you get applause, you will hear it. My advice to you concerning applause is this; enjoy it but never quite believe it.
—Robert Montgomery (1904–81) American Film, Television Actor, Director, Producer
I will not much commend others to themselves, I will not at all commend myself to others. So to praise any to their faces is a kind of flattery, but to praise myself to any is the height of folly. He that boasts his own praises speaks ill of himself, and much derogates from his true deserts. It is worthy of blame to affect commendation.
—Arthur Warwick
It takes so little to make people happy. Just a touch, If we know how to give it, just a word fitly spoken, a slight readjustment of some bolt or pin or bearing in the delicate machinery of a soul.
—Frank Hall Crane (1873–1948) American Stage and Film Actor, Director
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
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
A word of encouragement during failure is worth more than a whole book of praises after a success.
—Anonymous
There is no stimulus like that which comes from the consciousness of knowing that others believe in us.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
We are not fond of praising, and never praise any one except from interested motives. Praise is a clever, concealed, and delicate flattery, which gratifies in different ways the giver and the receiver. The one takes it as a recompense of his merit, and the other bestows it to display his equity and discernment.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Everybody has the right to be left alone but nobody has the right to demand approval.
—Unknown
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
Undeserved praise causes more pangs of conscience later than undeserved blame, but probably only for this reason, that our power of judgment are more completely exposed by being over praised than by being unjustly underestimated.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
We must not always judge of the generality of the opinion by the noise of the acclamation.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
Appreciative words are the most powerful force for good on earth!
—George W. Crane (1901–95) American Psychologist, Physician
The praise of ancient authors proceeds not from the reverence of the dead, but from the competition and mutual envy of the living.
—Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) English Political Philosopher
In doing what we ought we deserve no praise, because it is our duty.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
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
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
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
Great tranquility of heart is his who cares for neither praise nor blame.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Men sometimes feel injured by praise because it assigns a limit to their merit; few people are modest enough not to take offense that one appreciates them.
—Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–47) French Moralist, Essayist, Writer
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