You May Also Like / View all maxioms
If you can't love, learn how to flatter.
If you can't love, learn how to flatter.
When Fortune flatters, she does it to betray.
When Fortune flatters, she does it to betray.
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
Of praise a mere glutton, he swallow'd what came,
And the puff a dunce, he mistook it for fame;
read more
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.
Knavery and flattery are blood relations.
Knavery and flattery are blood relations.
They do not abuse the king that flatter him.
For flattery is the bellows blows up sin;
read more
They do not abuse the king that flatter him.
For flattery is the bellows blows up sin;
The thing the which is flattered, but a spark
To which that blast gives heat and stronger glowing;
Whereas reproof, obedient and in order,
Fits kings as they are men, for they may err.
Flattery is all right so long as you don't inhale.
Flattery is all right so long as you don't inhale.
The skilful class of flatterers praise the discourse of an
ignorant friend and the face of a deformed one.
read more
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