William Makepeace Thackeray Quotes

Arselicker!

I have watched people around members of the royal family for a long time now, and something very strange happens to them. They turn into sycophants.

People in power, they're so used to people kind of playing up to them.

Everyone likes flattery; and when you come to Royalty you should lay it on with a trowel.

I think he [President Jimmy Carter]'s around too many people that kiss his ass all the time.

SYCOPHANT- One who approaches Greatness on his belly so that he may not be commanded to turn and be kicked. He is sometimes an editor.

Nothing is more despicable than to reach fame by crawling, position by cringing.

Sir, I am no sycophant or worshipper of power anywhere.

The world of this is a load of crap. You get all these bloody people, so incredibly sycophantic.

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.

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.

We South Asians have sycophancy in our genes!

I can't sing and I can't dance, but I can lick any S.O.B. in the house.

I am not an easel-kisser.

To be free in an age like ours, one must be in a position of authority. That in itself would be enough to make me ambitious.

It is not serving, but servility, that is menial.

Sucking up to the biggies won't get us anywhere.

The English, the plain English, of the politest address of a gentleman to a lady is, I am now, dear Madam, your humble servant: Pray be so good as to let me be your Lord and Master.

Man, so long as he remains free, has no more constant and agonizing anxiety than find as quickly as possible someone to worship.

The French want no-one to be their superior. The English want inferiors. The Frenchman constantly raises his eyes above him with anxiety. The Englishman lowers his beneath him with satisfaction.

It is the coward who fawns upon those above him. It is the coward who is insolent whenever he dares be so.

The king appeared... with his dogs and sycophants behind him.

We had thought you had been ruler over your land ... but now we perceive that there be other men that do rule, and not men but peasants and merchants ... and you flow in your maidenly estate like a maid.

I intended to be one of the governing class.

Every organism, every human being, must conquer or serve.