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Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished read more
Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people in order to betray them.
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 all right so long as you don't inhale.
Flattery is all right so long as you don't inhale.
To be a man's own fool is bad enough; but the vain man is everybody's.
To be a man's own fool is bad enough; but the vain man is everybody's.
Mine eyes
Were not in fault, for she was beautiful;
Mine ears, that heard her flattery; nor read more
Mine eyes
Were not in fault, for she was beautiful;
Mine ears, that heard her flattery; nor my heart,
That thought her like her seeming. It had been vicious
To have mistrusted her.
A woman's flattery may inflate a man's head a little; but her criticism goes straight to his heart, and contracts read more
A woman's flattery may inflate a man's head a little; but her criticism goes straight to his heart, and contracts it so that it can never again hold quite as much love for her
'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.
Nobody can describe a fool to the life, without much patient self-inspection.
Nobody can describe a fool to the life, without much patient self-inspection.
Take no repulse, whatever she doth say;
For 'get you gone,' she doth not mean 'away.'
Flatter read more
Take no repulse, whatever she doth say;
For 'get you gone,' she doth not mean 'away.'
Flatter and praise, commend, extol their graces;
Though ne'er so black, say they have angels' faces.
That man that hath a tongue, I say is no man,
If with his tongue he cannot win a woman.