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.
Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.
Sincere praise is better than calculated flattery.
Manners must adorn knowledge, and smooth its way through the world. Like a great rough diamond, it may do very well in a closet by way of curiosity, and also f…
Without some dissimulation no business can be carried on at all.
Wear your learning, like your watch, in a private pocket: and do not pull it out and strike it, merely to show that you have one.
He is really not so ugly after all, provided, of course, that one shuts one's eyes, and does not look at him.
The aim of flattery is to soothe and encourage us by assuring us of the truth of an opinion we have already formed about ourselves.
Our credulity is greatest concerning the things we know least about. And since we know least about ourselves, we are ready to believe all that is said about us…