49 Flattery Quotes

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.

Crows pick out the eyes of the dead, when the dead have no longer need of them; but flatterers mar the soul of the living, and her eyes they blind.

Among all the diseases of the mind there is not one more epidemical or more pernicious than the love of flattery.

If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you.

He who says he hates every kind of flattery, and says it in earnest, certainly does not yet know every kind of flattery.

Although a skillful flatterer is a most delightful companion if him all to yourself, his taste becomes very doubtful when he takes to complimenting other people.

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. Hence the mysterious power of both flattery and calumny.... It is thus with most of us: we are what other people say we are. We know ourselves chiefly by hearsay.

'Tis an old maxim in the schools, That flattery's the food of fools; Yet now and then your men of wit Will condescend to take a bit.

Every one that flatters thee Is no friends in misery. Words are easy, like the wind; Faithful friends are hard to find. Every man will be thy friend Whilst thou hast wherewith to spend; But if store of crowns be scant, No man will supply thy want.

You say, as I have often given tongue In praise of what another's said or sung, 'Twere politic to do the like by these; But was there ever a dog that praised his fleas?

Nothing is so great an instance of ill manners as flattery. If you flatter all the company, you please none; if you flatter only one or two, you affront the rest.

No man is much pleased with a companion, who does not increase, in some respect, his fondness for himself.

Dragons love you. You're crunchy and good with ketchup.

Fabricaronles a muchos su grandeza sus malevolos. Mas fiera es la lisonja que el odio, pues remedia este eficazmente las tachas que aquella disimula.

It was a maxim with Mr. Brass that the habit of paying compliments kept a man's tongue oiled without any expense; and that, as that useful member ought never to grow rusty or creak in turning on its hinges in the case of a practitioner of the law, in whom it should be always glib and easy, he lost few opportunities of improving himself by the utterance of handsome speeches and eulogistic expressions.

The sycophant - who in the pay of the English oligarchy played the romantic laudator temporis acti against the French Revolution just as, in the pay of the North American colonies at the beginning of the American troubles, he had played the liberal against the English oligarchy - was an out-and-out vulgar bourgeois.

The anger of an ape-the threat of a flatterer:-these deserve equal regard.

'I well understand your doing this,' said the notary. 'A man of science can't be expected to burden himself with the practical details of existence.' Charles felt soothed by these oily words: they flattered his weakness, making it look like preoccupation with lofty things.

Flattery Is monstrous in a true friend.

Joni, you have more class than Richard Nixon, Mick Jagger, and Gomer Pyle combined!

Goodman: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Kael: I hate it. It is very creepy being imitated.

C'e un veleno che corrode le dittature: l'incenso. La rovina delle dittature sono i ras osannanti.

But it is hard to know them [flatterers] from friends, they are so obsequious, and full of protestations; for as a wolf resembles a dog, so doth a flatterer a friend.

Whenever he met a great man he grovelled before him, and my-lorded him as only a free-born Briton can do.

A hint of 'I'm so pleased that you strong, handsome, stalwart men are going to stand between my flower-like beauty and danger,' wouldn't hurt either

I feel like such a fool Honest people are the easiest to fool, Elisheba. I never occurred to you that they might be flattering you, because you don't lie

If Marilyn is in love with my husband it proves she has good taste, for I am in love with him too.

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.

Every woman is infallibly to be gained by every sort of flattery, and every man by one sort or other.

Flattery is all right so long as you don't inhale it.

You have heard me accused me of being a flatterer. It is true. I am a flatterer. I have found it useful. Everyone likes flattery; and when you come to Royalty you should lay it on with a trowel.

L'amour-propre est le plus grand de tous les flatteurs.

The world is a king, and like a king, desires flattery in return for favor; but true art is selfish and perverse - it will not submit to the mold of flattery.

He who knows how to flatter also knows how to slander.

There is no other way of guarding oneself against flattery than by letting men understand that they will not offend you by speaking the truth; but when everyone can tell you the truth, you lose their respect.

Who peppered the highest was surest to please.

Money is the sincerest of all flattery. Women love to be flattered. So do men.

Never praise a sister to a sister, in the hope of your compliments reaching the proper ears, and so preparing the way for you later on. Sisters are women first, and sisters afterwards; and you will find that you do yourself harm.