John Piper Quotes

Flattery is a juggler, and no kin unto sincerity.

Compliments are only lies in court clothes.

It is undoubtedly true that some people mistake sycophancy for good nature, but it is equally true that many more mistake impertinence for sincerity.

Flattery is false money, which would not be current were it not for our vanity.

Flattery is counterfeit, and like counterfeit money, it will eventually get you into trouble if you pass it to someone else.

Revile those who flatter you.

There is nothing in the world more difficult than candor, and nothing easier than flattery. If there is a hundredth of a fraction of a false note to candor, it immediately produces dissonance, and as a result, exposure. But in flattery, even if everything is false down to the last note, it is still pleasant, and people will listen not without pleasure; with coarse pleasure, perhaps, but pleasure nevertheless.

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

False praise is worse than no praise.

Out of five hundred who speak glibly of love, not one can spell the first letter of his name.

Baloney is flattery laid on so thick it cannot be true, and blarney is flattery so thin we love it.

Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere.

Flattery is like cologne water, to be smelt, not swallowed.

Always be sincere, even if you don't mean it.

The same man cannot be both Friend and Flatterer.

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

Twas never merry world Since lowly feigning was called compliment.

Flattery is the worst and falsest way of showing our esteem.

What signifies protesting so against flattery when a person speaks well of one, it must either be true or false, you know if true, let us rejoice in his good opinion if he lies, it is a proof at least that he loves more to please me, than to sit s

The most detestable race of enemies are flatterers.

A flatterers throat is an open Sepulcher.

Most style is not honest enough.

It's so much easier to tell people what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear.

We all respect sincerity in our friends and acquaintances, but Hollywood is willing to pay for it.