Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them.
A refusal of praise is a desire to be praised twice.
When we disclaim praise, it is only showing our desire to be praised a second time.
Flattery is a counterfeit money which, but for vanity, would have no circulation.
The shame that arises from praise which we do not deserve often makes us do things we should otherwise never have attempted.
To praise princes for virtues they do not possess is to insult them without fear of consequences.
Usually we praise only to be praised.
We seldom praise anyone in good earnest, except such as admire us.
The desire which urges us to deserve praise strengthens our good qualities, and praise given to wit, valour, and beauty, tends to increase them.
The mark of extraordinary merit is to see those most envious of it constrained to praise.
Praise is a more ingenious, concealed, and subtle kind of flattery, that satisfies both the giver and the receiver, though by verydifferent ways. The one accepts it as a reward due to his merit; the other gives it that he may be looked upon as a just and discerning person.
Idleness and fear keeps us in the path of duty, but our virtue often gets the praise.
Nothing ought more to humiliate men who have merited great praise than the care they still take to boast of little things.
We are not fond of praising, and never praise any one except from interested motives. Praise is a clever, concealed, and delicate flattery, which gratifies in different ways the giver and the receiver. The one takes it as a recompense of his merit, and the other bestows it to display his equity and discernment.
He who refuses praise the first time that it is offered does so because he would hear it a second time.
There are reproaches which praise, and praises which defame.
There is no praise we have not lavished upon prudence; and yet she cannot assure to us the most trifling event.
Everyone praises his heart, none dare praise their understanding.
We sometimes condemn the present, by praising the past; and show our contempt of what is now, by our esteem for what is no more.
Generally speaking, we would make a good bargain by renouncing all the good that people say of us, upon condition they would say no ill.
It is oftener by the estimation of our own feelings that we exaggerate the good qualities of others than by their merit, and when we praise them we wish to attract their praise.
We do not praise others, ordinarily, but in order to be praised ourselves.
To praise great actions is in some sense to share them.
We do not like to praise, and seldom praise anyone without self-interest.
Praise is flattery, artful, hidden, delicate, which gratifies differently him who praises and him who is praised. The one takes it as the reward of merit, the other bestows it to show his impartiality and knowledge.
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