Henry Fielding Quotes

If we never flattered ourselves we should have but scant pleasure.

There is no such flatterer as is a man's self.

Fondly we think we honor merit then, When we but praise ourselves in other men.

It is singular how impatient men are with overpraise of others, how patient of overpraise of themselves; and yet the one does them no injury, while the other may be their ruin.

Every other enjoyment malice may destroy; every other panegyric envy may withhold; but no human power can deprive the boaster of his own encomiums.

It has well been said that the arch-flatterer, with whom all petty flatterers have intelligence, is a man's self.

Egotism is more like an offense, than a crime; though it is allowable to speak of yourself, provided nothing is advanced in favor; but I cannot help suspecting that those who abuse themselves are, in reality, angling for approbation.

men are so conceited they’ll believe anything that flatters them

A man that extols himself is a fool and an idiot

I'm not conceited. Conceit is a fault and I have no faults.

I don't want to write a hagiography on myself. To me, that is just a waste.

He that is much flattered soon learns to flatter himself.

A man is never more serious than when he praise himself.

Men of real merit, and whose noble and glorious deeds we are ready to acknowledge, are yet not to be endured when they vaunt their own actions.

I scarce ever heard or saw the introductory words, "Without vanity I may say," etc., but some vain thing immediately followed.

He who sounds his own trumpet will soon find plenty to laugh at him.

A man's own vanity is a swindler that never lacks for a dupe.

Conceit is thinking you're great; egotism is knowing it.

Mastery passes often for egotism.

Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity.

Vanity can easily overtake wisdom. It usually overtakes common sense.

There are two kinds of egotists: Those who admit it, and the rest of us.

I've gone through guys who want to lay on their backs and play like they're full of themselves. You know, I don't care about posing. I mean look at me, do I care about posing?

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

The advantage of doing one's praising for oneself is that one can lay it on so thick and exactly in the right places.