Edmund Burke Quotes

Once you have power, you are inevitably surrounded by people who have their own agendas and will tell you whatever advances them.

Persons in high situations must particularly guard themselves against selfishness and vanity. An individual in a high and important situation will easily see a great many persons eager to please the first, and to flatter and encourage the last.

People generally despise where they flatter, and cringe to those they would gladly overtop; so that truth and ceremony are two things.

They do not abuse the king that flatter him. For flattery is the bellows blows up sin; The thing the which is flattered, but a spark To which that blast gives heat and stronger glowing.

People in power, they're so used to people kind of playing up to them.

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

Flattery was one of Kissinger's principal tools in winning over Nixon, and a tool he employed shamelessly.

To be flattered is grateful, even when we know that our praises are not believed by those who pronounce them; for they prove, at least, our power, and show that our favour is valued, since it is purchased by the meanness of falsehood.

At one time kings were anointed by Deity, so the problem was to see to it that Deity chose the right candidate. In this age the myth is "the will of the people" ... but the problem changes only superficially.

The reason that adulation is not displeasing is that, though untrue, it shows one to be of consequence enough, in one way or other, to induce people to lie.

There is nothing which so poisons princes as flattery, nor anything whereby wicked men more easily obtain credit and favor with them.

No adulation; 'tis the death of virtue; Who flatters, is of all mankind the lowest Save he who courts the flattery.

Do you take me for a sponge, my lord? hamlet: Ay, sir; that soaks up the king's countenance, his rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the king best service in the end: he keeps them, like an ape, in the corner of his jaw; first mouthed, to be last swallowed: when he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, you shall be dry again. rosencrantz: I understand you not, my lord. hamlet: I am glad of it: a knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear.

Only a lunatic would want to be president. These lunatics are created deliberately by those who wish to be presided over.

It is better to fall among crows than flatterers; for those devour only the dead - these the living.

The appalling reality in American politics today is that, when ideology and money mix, truth is a mere inconvenience.

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

If you don't give education to people, it is easy to manipulate them.

There have been many great men that have flattered the people who ne'er loved them.

So I still seized the power, but I felt that if I officially made myself the boss, in black and white, it would be too intimidating for the other producers and the other men who worked on the show. In other words, I had the power, but I gave them the title.

Knavery and flattery are blood relations.

Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver.

What I'd really like to control is not machines, but people.

But there is a difference between cozying up to power and being close to power.

All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree.