Francois de La Rochefoucauld Quotes

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

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

We sometimes imagine we hate flattery, but we only hate the way we are flattered.

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

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.

I cannot think of any character below the flatterer, except he who envies him.

All flatterers live at the expense of those who listen to them.

Sometimes we think we dislike flattery, but it is only the way it is done that we dislike.

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

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

Praise undeserved, is satire in disguise.

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

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

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

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

You know when someone's over-flattering you in a way. You smile but you can't believe it.

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

It was better to fall among crows than among flatterers; for that crows only devour the dead, but the flatterers devour the living.

FLATTERY is nothing, but false friendship, fawning hypocrisy, dishonest civility, base merchandise of words…

The days and weeks of screwed-up smiles and laboured courtesy, the mock geniality, the hearty shake of the filthy hand, the chuckling reply that must be made to the coarse joke, the loathsome, choking compliment that must be paid to the grimy wife and sluttish daughter, the indispensable flattery of the vilest religious prejudices, the wholesale deglutition of hypocritical pledges.

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.

Compliments are only lies in court clothes.

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

Flattery is a juggler, and no kin unto sincerity.

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.