Nay, do not think I flatter.
For what advancement may I hope from thee,
That no revenue read more

Nay, do not think I flatter.
For what advancement may I hope from thee,
That no revenue hast but thy good spirits
To feed and clothe thee? Why should the poor be flattered?
No, let the candied tongue like absurd pomp,
And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee
Where thrift may follow fawning.

Where Young must torture his invention
To flatter knaves, or lose his pension.

Where Young must torture his invention
To flatter knaves, or lose his pension.

Imitation is the sincerest of flattery.

Imitation is the sincerest of flattery.

We sometimes think that we hate flattery, but we only hate the
manner in which it is done.
read more

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.]

The skilful class of flatterers praise the discourse of an
ignorant friend and the face of a deformed one.
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The skilful class of flatterers praise the discourse of an
ignorant friend and the face of a deformed one.
[Lat., Adulandi gens prudentissima laudat
Sermonem indocti, faciem deformis amici.]

Flattery is like friendship in show, but not in fruit

Flattery is like friendship in show, but not in fruit

Just praise is only a debt, but flattery is a present.

Just praise is only a debt, but flattery is a present.

Gallantry of mind consists in saying flattering things in an
agreeable manner.

Gallantry of mind consists in saying flattering things in an
agreeable manner.

Avoid flatterers, for they are thieves in disguise.

Avoid flatterers, for they are thieves in disguise.