William Shakespeare Quotes

Flattery is no more than what raises in a man's mind an idea of a preference which he has not.

There is nothing which so poisons princes as flattery, nor anything whereby wicked men more easily obtain credit and favor with them.

The most that can be said of flattery is that it is sometimes a cheap psychological trick with which charlatans and dishonest people lull others into a state of carelessness while they pick their pockets.

Flattery is praise insincerely given for an interested purpose.

The flatterer easily insinuates himself into the closet, while honest merit stands shivering in the hall or antechamber.

What valor cannot win, flattery may.

Flattery is like wine, which exhilarates a man for a moment, but usually ends by going to his head and making him act foolishly.

Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver; and adulation is not of more service to the people than to kings.

Take care how you listen to the voice of the flatterer, who, in return for his little stock, expects to derive from you considerable advantage. If one day you do not comply with his wishes, be imputes to you two hundred defects instead of perfections.

Once you have power, you are inevitably surrounded by people who have their own agendas and will tell you whatever advances them.

What drink'st thou oft, instead of homage sweet, But poisoned flattery?

Learn that every flatterer Lives at the flattered listeners cost.

Crows pick out the eyes of the dead, when the dead have no longer need of them; but flatterers mar the soul of the living, and her eyes they blind.

Men sometimes think they hate flattery, but they hate only the manner of flattering.

We must be careful how we flatter fools too little, or wise men too much, for the flatterer must act the very reverse of the physician, and administer the strongest dose only to the weakest patient.

No adulation; 'tis the death of virtue; Who flatters, is of all mankind the lowest Save he who courts the flattery.

A man who flatters a woman hopes either to find her a fool or to make her one.

Flattery is counterfeit, and like counterfeit money, it will eventually get you into trouble if you pass it to someone else.

Flattery labors under the odious charge of servility.

We should always speak what would please the man of whom we expect a favour,like the hunter who sings sweetly when he desires to shoot a deer.

No visor does become black villainy so well as soft and tender flattery.

Flattery will get you everywhere," Sam says, "Except, apparently, off a roof.

Whom does undeserved honour please, and undeserved blame alarm, but the base and the liar?

He who cannot love must learn to flatter.

You know That I do fawn on men, and hug them hard, And after scandal them.