Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux Quotes

The fool within himself is the object of pity, until he is flattered.

VANITY, n. The tribute of a fool to the worth of the nearest ass.

Author: A fool who, not content with having bored those who have lived with him, insists on tormenting generations to come.

Fondly we think we honor merit then, When we but praise ourselves in other men.

The world is full of fools; and he who would not wish to see one, must not only shut himself up alone, but must also break his looking-glass.

None are more taken in by flattery than the proud, who wish to be the first and are not.

Fools are without number.

However big the fool, there is always a bigger fool to admire him.

Stupidity talks, vanity acts.

He that loves to be flattered is worthy o' the flatterer.

I'm very flattered, but I don't think I'm the sexiest man on the planet.

A fool always finds a greater fool to admire him

Stupidity isn't punishable by death. If it was, there would be a hell of a population drop.

Most everyone seems willing to be a fool himself, but he can't bear to have anyone else one.

Naivete in grownups is often charming; but when coupled with vanity it is indistinguishable from stupidity.

A woman who acts like a fool is a fool.

A flatterer is the shadow of a fool.

There had never been a shortage of fools in the world

It is very often nothing but our own vanity that deceives us. Women fancy admiration means more than it does. And men take care that they should.

A limbo large and broad, since call'd The Paradise of Fools to few unknown.

The greatest fool is he who thinks he is not one and all others are.

No creature smarts so little as a fool.

Pope had been flattered till he thought himself one of the moving powers of the system of life. When he talked of laying down his pen, those who sat round him intreated and implored; and self-love did not suffer him to suspect that they went away and laughed.

We are too apt to love praise, but not to deserve it.