Gertrude Stein Quotes

Men sometimes think they hate flattery, but they hate only the manner of flattering.

Flattery is telling the other person precisely what he thinks about himself.

Sheer flattery got me into the theater. Flattery always works with me, particularly the flattery of women.

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

It is simpler and easier to flatter people than to praise them.

Commend a fool for his wit, or a rogue for his honesty and he will receive you into his favor.

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.

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

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

[Logic and philosophy] were of no use, in the church or the state, in the cloister or the court, in peace or war, at home or abroad or anywhere but in the schools

When the political columnists say 'Every thinking man' they mean themselves, and when candidates appeal to 'Every intelligent voter' they mean everybody who is going to vote for them.

The teacher ought also to be specially on his guard against taking unfair advantage of the student’s immaturity by indoctrinating him with the teacher’s own opinions before the student has had an opportunity fairly to examine other opinions upon the matters in question, and before he has sufficient knowledge and ripeness of judgment to be entitled to form any definitive opinion of his own.

Madam, before you flatter a man so grossly to his face, you should consider whether or not your flattery is worth his having.

Master and Doctor are my titles; for ten years now, without repose, I held my erudite recitals and led my pupils by the nose.

Logic invents as many fallacies as it detects; it is a good weapon, but as liable to be used in a bad as in a good cause.

None can be pleased without praise, and few can be praised without falsehood.

Flattery has to overcome my mistrust, and it does.

Mountains of gold would not seduce some men, yet flattery would break them down.

I'm tired of saying "How wonderful you are!" to fool men, who haven't got one half sense I've got.

People can be induced to swallow anything, provided it is sufficiently seasoned with praise.

Flattery must be pretty thick before anybody objects to it.

A charlatan makes obscure what is clear; a thinker makes clear what is obscure.

Suspect too much sweet talk but never close your mind.

A flatterer never seems absurd: The flatter'd always takes his word.

Flattery makes fools of the best of us.