William Shenstone Quotes

We love flattery, even though we are not deceived by it, because it shows that we are of importance enough to be courted.

Glamour cannot exist without personal social envy being a common and widespread emotion.

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

Flattery pleases very generally. In the first place, the flatterer may think what he says to be true; but, in the second place, whether he thinks so or not, he certainly thinks those whom he flatters of consequence enough to be flattered.

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.

What really flatters a man is that you think him worth flattering.

The flatterer does not think highly enough of himself or of others.

The unvarnished truth is that almost all the people you meet feel themselves superior to you in some way, and a sure way to their hearts is to let them realize in some subtle way that you recognize their importance, and recognize it sincerely.

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

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.

The vulgar man is always the most distinguished, for the very desire to be distinguished is vulgar.

My vanity was flattered by having been mistaken for our revered sovereign. I ordered a banquet to be got ready for the following evening, under the trees before my house, and invited the whole town.

When you see a woman who can go nowhere without a staff of admirers, it is not so much because they think she is beautiful, it is because she has told them they are handsome.

I can’t afford to have my Vice President who knows every reporter in town, go around saying we’re all screwed up, so we’re going to keep him happy. You are dealing with a very insecure, sensitive man with a huge ego. I want you to literally kiss his ass from one end of Washington to the other.

I'm a sucker for a compliment.

The herd seek out the great, not for their sake but for their influence; and the great welcome them out of vanity or need.

We seldom praise anyone in good earnest, except such as admire us.

We all want to be praised, right?

One time, someone came up to me and said, 'I know so-and-so. They're a professor at Harvard. They're a big fan of your work.' But that doesn't impress me more than any other people feeling that way.

A flatterer is a friend who is your inferior, or pretends to be so.

Virtually no idea is too ridiculous to be accepted, even by very intelligent and highly educated people, if it provides a way for them to feel special and important. Some confuse that feeling with idealism.

Learn that every flatterer Lives at the flattered listeners cost.

He that is much flattered soon learns to flatter himself.

The most dangerous of all flattery is the inferiority of those about us.

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