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Flattery Quotes

Words of praise, and the doubt they leave behind.

This page gathers quotes that examine flattery as a social tool, from its use in advertising to the subtler ways people court favor through praise. Several quotes contrast flattery with real Admiration, noting how easily one slides into the other.

Flattery is all right so long as you don't inhale.

Quotes by Adlai Stevenson I

Knavery and flattery are blood relations.

Abraham Lincoln

One may define flattery as a base companionship which is most advantageous to the flatterer.

Quotes by Theophrastus

Flattery and criticism are always in our profession.

Quotes by Sergio Ramos

Admiration Quotes

Imitation is obviously a great form of flattery.

Quotes by Peyton Manning

Advertising - a judicious mixture of flattery and threats.

Quotes by Northrop Frye

Between flattery and admiration there often flows a river of contempt.

Quotes by Minna Antrim

Imitation is flattery, and The Hills Have Eyes is a classic.

Quotes by Michael Berryman

Said I was beautiful, did he? He's being paid for treatment, not flattery.

Quotes by Lillie Langtry

Advertising Quotes

Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery.

Quotes by Joyce Brothers

The flattery of posterity is not worth much more than contemporary flattery, which is worth nothing.

Quotes by Jorge Luis Borges

To ask advice is in nine cases out of ten to tout for flattery.

Quotes by John Churton Collins

The most sincere form of flattery is money.

Quotes by Jim Cantrell

Immigration is the sincerest form of flattery.

Quotes by Jack Paar

Advice Quotes

Flattery is like chewing gum. Enjoy it but don't swallow it.

Quotes by Hank Ketcham

He who says he hates every kind of flattery, and says it in earnest, certainly does not yet know every kind of flattery.

Quotes by Georg C. Lichtenberg

Baloney is flattery laid on so thick it cannot be true, and blarney is flattery so thin we love it.

Quotes by Fulton J. Sheen

Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver.

Quotes by Edmund Burke

The aim of flattery is to soothe and encourage us by assuring us of the truth of an opinion we have already formed about ourselves.

Quotes by Edith Sitwell

Aim Quotes

I think people ragging on me is kind of a form of flattery.

Quotes by Chord Overstreet

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Frequently Asked Questions

What do these flattery quotes focus on?
This collection gathers quotes examining flattery as social behavior — the mixture of charm and self-interest in praise, and how easily it is used to persuade or manipulate rather than express honest feeling.
Why do people search for quotes about flattery?
Readers often look for flattery quotes to make sense of compliments that feel exaggerated or self-serving, whether in relationships, workplaces, or marketing, and to describe praise that doesn't feel earned.
How do these quotes distinguish flattery from admiration?
Several draw a sharp line between the two, suggesting Admiration is genuine appreciation while flattery is calculated, with one quote noting the two are separated by a river of contempt.
Is flattery ever presented positively in these quotes?
Not really — the quotes here treat flattery with suspicion, comparing it to a mix of praise and threats used in advertising, and describing it as a companionship that mainly benefits the flatterer, not the person flattered.
What's an unusual angle among these quotes?
One quote reframes sincere flattery entirely, suggesting that genuinely listening to someone — rather than copying or praising them — is the truest form of flattery a person can offer.

Writers here treat flattery skeptically, pairing it with Advertising tactics and questioning whether kind Advice can survive an undertone of flattery. Read on for quotes that separate genuine praise from persuasion.