Quotations about Praise and Flattery
Using Quotations in a Speech or Text about Praise and Flattery
As well as keeping your audience engaged, adding quotations to a speech or a text can significantly enhance its impact and effectiveness. Quotations are useful for explaining complex ideas concisely, much in the same way that analogies are used. Additionally, quotations from experts or celebrities can add credibility to your message.Here are some funny and poignant quotations about praise and flattery. If your speech is serious, do not automatically avoid funny quotations as they can often be the most impactful, forcing your audience into the thinking about the hidden analogous message in your selected quotation.
- "Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious." (British actor Peter Ustinov)
- "When a thing is funny, search it carefully for a hidden truth." (Irish dramatist George Bernard Shaw)
"I can resist everything except temptation ... and flattery." Mae West (American actress, 1892-1980)
"Flattery looks like friendship – just like a wolf looks like a dog." anonymous
"Flattery is like *chewing gum.*oil.*a lie.* Enjoy it but don't swallow it." Hank Ketcham (American cartoonist, 1920-2001)
"I'd rather have someone tell me I have something in my teeth than flatter me." Carol Leifer (American comedian, 1956-)
"Flattery is just *fake news*a chat-up line*a proposal* dressed up in a suit and tie." Martha Stewart (American businesswoman, 1941-)
"I never forget a compliment, especially when someone else gives it to me." George C. Lichtenberg (German physicist, 1742-1799)
"If flattery gets you everywhere, then I'm definitely going nowhere." Ellen DeGeneres (American comedian and actress, 1958-)
Flattery is like cologne water, to be smelt, not *swallowed.*sniffed.*worn.* Josh Billings (American humorist, 1818-1885)
"I can live for two months on a good compliment." Mark Twain (American writer, 1835-1910)
"What really flatters a man is that you think him worth flattering." George Bernard Shaw (Irish dramatist, 1856-1950)
"I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But then I read the description in the catalogue: no good in a bed, but fine up against a wall." anonymous
"The advantage of doing one's praising for oneself is that one can lay it on so thick and exactly in the right places." Samuel Butler (English novelist, 1835-1902)
"If a man is vain, flatter. If timid, flatter. If boastful, flatter. In all history, too much flattery never lost a gentleman." Kathryn Cravens (American broadcaster, 1898-1991)
The others were only my wives. But you, my dear, will be my *widow.*dance partner.*business partner.* Sacha Guitry (French actor and dramatist, 1885-1957)
"I live for your agglomerated lucubrations." Henry James (American novelist, 1843-1916) to H. G. Wells
"To refuse to accept praise is to want to be praised twice over." Duc de la Rochefoucauld (French moralist, 1613-80)
"Nine out of ten males will believe anything, especially if it confirms their virility." Andrea Martin (American actress, 1947-)
Among the smaller duties of life, I hardly know one more important than that of not praising where praise is not due. Sydney Smith (English clergyman and essayist, 1771-1845)
"I suppose flattery hurts no one, that is, if he doesn't inhale." Adlai Stevenson (American Democratic politician, 1900-65)
Thinking Template for a Speech or Text on Praise and Flattery
Below are 3 funny themes and 3 serious themes related to praise and flattery. These have been included to help you identify areas to explore.Funny Themes:
- Compliment Catastrophes: The Funniest Flattery Fails
- Share amusing stories or anecdotes about awkward or unintentionally funny compliments, highlighting humorous misunderstandings or unexpected reactions.
- Flattery Flops: Hilarious Attempts at Buttering Up
- Explore humorous anecdotes or stories about comical attempts at flattery, from over-the-top compliments to awkward attempts at ingratiating oneself.
- Flattery Faux Pas: When Praise Goes Awry
- Discuss funny scenarios or mishaps involving misplaced praise or flattery, showcasing the comedic side of social interactions and etiquette.
Serious Themes:
- The Art of Genuine Praise: Authenticity and Sincerity
- Discuss the importance of genuine praise and appreciation in building relationships and fostering positive environments, emphasizing sincerity and authenticity.
- Psychology of Flattery: Motives, Effects, and Ethics
- Explore the psychological aspects of flattery, discussing its motives, effects on individuals and relationships, and ethical considerations in giving and receiving praise.
- Cultural Perspectives on Praise: Traditions, Customs, and Values
- Address cultural variations in expressing praise and appreciation, discussing traditions, customs, and societal values associated with giving compliments and recognition.
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