Praise is flattery, artful, hidden, delicate, which gratifies differently him who praises and him who is praised. The one takes it as the reward of merit, the other bestows it to show his impartiality and knowledge.
The honied tongue hath its poison.
A laudation in Greek is of marvellous efficacy on the title-page of a book.
Flattery is an ensnaring quality, and leaves a very dangerous impression. It swells a man's imagination, entertains his vanity, and drives him to a doting upon his own person.
The most that can be said of flattery is that it is sometimes a cheap psychological trick with which charlatans and dishonest people lull others into a state of carelessness while they pick their pockets.
Gallantry of mind consists in saying flattering things in an agreeable manner.
Flattery is telling the other person precisely what he thinks about himself.
It is a great mistake for men to give up paying compliments, for when they give up saying what is charming, they give up thinking what is charming.
