Francois de La Rochefoucauld Quotes

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

You want me to tell me the truth or do you want me to stroke you?

I don't like compliments, and I don't see why a man should think he is pleasing a woman enormously when he says to her a whole heap of things that he doesn't mean.

Just praise is only a debt, but flattery is a present.

It is easier and handier for men to flatter than to praise.

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

False praise is worse than no praise.

The hardest thing about being famous is that people are always nice to you. You're in a conversation and everybody's agreeing with what you're saying - even if you say something totally crazy. You need people who can tell you what you don't want to hear.

I much prefer a compliment, even if insincere, to sincere criticism.

I don't want people kissing my butt. If I had a bad show and I know it, don't tell me I had a good show. I hate that. I guess because I'm 17, people think I don't see stuff like that.

I get a lot of people coming up to me and saying, 'I really hate you.' And they say it in the nicest possible way, and I accept it. It's the people who come up to you and say, 'I really liked your character. Man, he was right!' Those are the ones you worry about.

Flattery makes friends and truth makes enemies

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.

Nothing in this world is harder than speaking the truth, nothing easier than flattery.

Complimenting someone in an exaggerated way is known as flattery, and flattery will generally get you anything you want.

Flattery won't hurt you if you don't swallow it.

There is no other way to guard yourself against flattery than by making men understand that telling you the truth will not offend you.

We have in my country (Russia) a quotation: "It is impossible to make out of apology a fur coat.

I don't think imitation is the highest form of flattery, I think it's annoying.

People who wish to numb our caution in dealing with them by means of flattery are employing a dangerous expedient, like a sleeping draught, which, if it does not put us to sleep, keeps us all the more awake.

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

You must not pay a person a compliment, and then straightway follow it with a criticism.

Flattery has to overcome my mistrust, and it does.

Flattery must be pretty thick before anybody objects to it.