# Quotes about flattery - Quotes: 18 - Authors: 15 - Broader topic: [Quotes about relationships](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/relationships.md) - Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery - JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery.json ## Quotes > Be advised that all flatterers live at the expense of those who listen to them. [Jean de La Fontaine](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-de-la-fontaine.md) · [Fables](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-de-la-fontaine/fables.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-de-la-fontaine/fables/be-advised-that.md) Topics: [flattery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery.md) > A compliment is something like a kiss through a veil. [Victor Hugo](https://www.leafyquotes.com/victor-hugo.md) · [Les Miserables](https://www.leafyquotes.com/victor-hugo/les-miserables.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/victor-hugo/les-miserables/a-compliment-is-something.md) Topics: [flattery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery.md) > But I discern their flattery from their praise. [Virgil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil.md) · [The Eclogues](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil/the-eclogues.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil/the-eclogues/but-i-discern.md) Topics: [flattery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery.md) > When you have done the rashest thing in the world it is very pleasant to be told that no man of spirit could have acted otherwise. [Anthony Trollope](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-trollope.md) · [Phineas Redux](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-trollope/phineas-redux.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-trollope/phineas-redux/when-you-have.md) Topics: [flattery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery.md) > Courtiers are not only eager to laugh when the King laughs, but they really do enjoy a laugh against a Favourite. [Charles Dickens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens.md) · [A Child's History of England](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/a-childs-history-of-england.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/a-childs-history-of-england/courtiers-are-not.md) Topics: [power](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/power.md), [flattery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery.md) > “Agree?” > > “Yes, ma’am.” > > “I don’t like subordinates always agreeing,” she said. “Sycophants have no place in my department. You’re to speak your mind when the opportunity calls for it.” > > “How will I know when that is?” > > “I shall inform you.” [Jasper Fforde](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde.md) · [Early Riser](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde/early-riser.md) · p. 216 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde/early-riser/agree-yes-maam.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [flattery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery.md) > Although a skilful flatterer is a most delightful companion if you can keep him all to yourself, his taste becomes very doubtful when he takes to complimenting other people. [Charles Dickens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens.md) · [Nicholas Nickleby](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/nicholas-nickleby.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/nicholas-nickleby/although-a-skilful.md) Topics: [flattery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery.md) > “Quettil, it doesn’t matter,” the King said airily, waving one hand. “I prefer accuracy to flattery.” [Iain M. Banks](https://www.leafyquotes.com/iain-m-banks.md) · [Inversions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/iain-m-banks/inversions.md) · p. 158 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/iain-m-banks/inversions/quettil-it-doesnt.md) Topics: [truth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/truth.md), [flattery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery.md) > He’s had less use for me outside the bedchamber since I stopped telling him things he wanted to hear. [Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md) · [Agent of Byzantium](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/agent-of-byzantium.md) · p. 297 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/agent-of-byzantium/hes-had-less.md) Topics: [truth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/truth.md), [flattery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery.md) > It was a maxim with Mr. Brass that the habit of paying compliments kept a man’s tongue oiled without any expense; and that, as that useful member ought never to grow rusty or creak in turning on its hinges in the case of a practitioner of the law, in whom it should be always glib and easy, he lost few opportunities of improving himself by the utterance of handsome speeches and eulogistic expressions. [Charles Dickens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens.md) · [The Old Curiosity Shop](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/the-old-curiosity-shop.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/the-old-curiosity-shop/it-was-a-maxim.md) Topics: [lawyers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/lawyers.md), [flattery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery.md) > Eugenie thought of this often. Men had told her many sweet things about herself, but never before that she was important. It was the nicest compliment she had ever received. [Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [Grass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/grass.md) · p. 120 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/grass/eugenie-thought-of-this.md) Topics: [women](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/women.md), [flattery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery.md) > The eulogies of my intelligence are positively intended to evade the question "Is what she says true?" [Simone Weil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/simone-weil.md) · [Simone Weil: An Anthology](https://www.leafyquotes.com/simone-weil/simone-weil-an-anthology.md) · p. 2 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/simone-weil/simone-weil-an-anthology/the-eulogies-of-my-intelligence.md) Topics: [truth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/truth.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md), [flattery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery.md) > Grant me prudently to avoid the flatterer, and patiently to bear with him that opposeth me; [Thomas Kempis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis.md) · [The Imitation of Christ](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis/the-imitation-of-christ.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis/the-imitation-of-christ/grant-me-prudently.md) Topics: [flattery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery.md) > We are delighted to find a person who values us as we value ourselves, and distinguishes us from the rest of mankind, with an attention not unlike that with which we distinguish ourselves. [Adam Smith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/adam-smith.md) · [The Theory of Moral Sentiments](https://www.leafyquotes.com/adam-smith/the-theory-of-moral-sentiments.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/adam-smith/the-theory-of-moral-sentiments/we-are-delighted.md) Topics: [self-esteem](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-esteem.md), [flattery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery.md) > I know flattery when I hear it; but I do not often hear it. [Robertson Davies](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robertson-davies.md) · [The Deptford Trilogy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robertson-davies/the-deptford-trilogy.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robertson-davies/the-deptford-trilogy/i-know-flattery.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [flattery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery.md) > Nothing in the world is harder than speaking the truth and nothing easier than flattery. If there’s the hundredth part of a false note in speaking the truth, it leads to a discord, and that leads to trouble. But if all, to the last note, is false in flattery, it is just as agreeable, and is heard not without satisfaction. It may be a coarse satisfaction, but still a satisfaction. And however coarse the flattery, at least half will be sure to seem true. That’s so for all stages of development and classes of society. [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fyodor-dostoyevsky.md) · [Crime And Punishment](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fyodor-dostoyevsky/crime-and-punishment.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fyodor-dostoyevsky/crime-and-punishment/nothing-in-the.md) Topics: [truth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/truth.md), [flattery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery.md) > It is salutary to train oneself to be no more affected by censure than by praise... [William Somerset Maugham](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-somerset-maugham.md) · [The Summing Up](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-somerset-maugham/the-summing-up.md) · p. 223 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-somerset-maugham/the-summing-up/it-is-salutary.md) Topics: [criticism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/criticism.md), [flattery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery.md) > People ask you for criticism, but they only want praise. [William Somerset Maugham](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-somerset-maugham.md) · [Of Human Bondage](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-somerset-maugham/of-human-bondage.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-somerset-maugham/of-human-bondage/people-ask-you.md) Topics: [criticism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/criticism.md), [flattery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flattery.md)