#flattery

The aim of flattery is to soothe and encourage us by assuring us of the truth of an opinion we have already formed about ourselves. ↗

— Edith Sitwell

#aim #already #assuring #encourage #flattery

Nothing is so great an example of bad manners as flattery. If you flatter all the company, you please none; If you flatter only one or two, you offend the rest. ↗

— Jonathan Swift

#bad manners #company #example #flatter #flattery

Imitation is flattery, and The Hills Have Eyes is a classic. ↗

— Michael Berryman

#eyes #flattery #hills #imitation

Popular culture is a place where pity is called compassion, flattery is called love, propaganda is called knowledge, tension is called peace, gossip is called news, and auto-tune is called singing. ↗

— Criss Jami

#bandwagon #compassion #culture #fads #flattery

Advertising - a judicious mixture of flattery and threats. ↗

— Northrop Frye

#flattery #judicious #mixture #threats

He shook his head, but I kept flattering him, telling him how fine his beard was, how fair his skin was (ha!), how it was obvious from his nose and forehead that he wasn't some pig herd who had converted, but a true-blue Muslim who had flown here on a magic carpet all the way from Mecca, and he grunted with satisfaction ↗

— Aravind Adiga

#funny #funny

I do not know whether anyone has ever succeeded in not enjoying praise. And, if he enjoys it, he naturally wants to receive it. And if he wants to receive it, he cannot help but being distraught at losing it. Those who are in love with applause have their spirits starved not only when they are blamed off-hand, but even when they fail to be constantly praised. ↗

— John Chrysostom

#praise #pride #love

What a situation!' cried Miss Squeers; '...What is the reason that men fall in love with me, whether I like it or not, and desert their chosen intendeds for my sake?' 'Because they can't help it, miss,' replied the girl; 'the reason's plain.' (If Miss Squeers were the reason, it was very plain.) ↗

— Charles Dickens

#humor #plain #vanity #love

Flattery is like chewing gum. Enjoy it but don't swallow it. ↗

— Hank Ketcham

#chewing gum #enjoy #flattery #gum #like

Immigration is the sincerest form of flattery. ↗

— Jack Paar

#form #immigration #sincerest #sincerest form