Of praise a mere glutton, he swallow'd what came,
And the puff a dunce, he mistook it for fame;
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Of praise a mere glutton, he swallow'd what came,
And the puff a dunce, he mistook it for fame;
Till his relish grown callous, almost to displease,
Who pepper'd the highest was surest to please.

'Tis an old maxim in the schools,
That flattery's the food of fools;
Yet now and then read more

'Tis an old maxim in the schools,
That flattery's the food of fools;
Yet now and then your men of wit
Will condescend to take a bit.

What drink'st thou oft, instead of homage sweet,
But poisoned flattery?

What drink'st thou oft, instead of homage sweet,
But poisoned flattery?

Flattery is telling the other person precisely what he thinks about himself

Flattery is telling the other person precisely what he thinks about himself

It is easier and handier for men to flatter than to praise.
[Ger., Es ist dem Menschen leichter und read more

It is easier and handier for men to flatter than to praise.
[Ger., Es ist dem Menschen leichter und gelaufiger, zu
schmeicheln als zu loben.]

We sometimes think that we hate flattery, but we only hate the
manner in which it is done.
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We sometimes think that we hate flattery, but we only hate the
manner in which it is done.
[Fr., On croit quelquefoir hair la flatterie; maid on ne hait que
a maniere de flatter.]

Young men think old men are fools, but old men know young men are fools.

Young men think old men are fools, but old men know young men are fools.

The best way to convince a fool that he is wrong is to let him have his own way.

The best way to convince a fool that he is wrong is to let him have his own way.

Avoid flatterers, for they are thieves in disguise.

Avoid flatterers, for they are thieves in disguise.