William Shakespeare on Flattery
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“O, that men's ears should be To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!”
“What drink'st thou oft, instead of homage sweet, But poison'd flattery?”
“They do abuse the king that flatter him: For flattery is the bellows blows up sin.”
“But when I tell him he hates flatterers, He says he does, being then most flattered.”
“Why should the poor be flatter'd? No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp, And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee, Where thrift may follow fawning.”
“By God, I cannot flatter: I do defy The tongues of soothers; but a braver place In my heart's love, hath no man than yourself; Nay, task me to my word; approve me, lord.”
“Mine eyes Were not in fault, for she was beautiful; Mine ears, that heard her flattery; nor my heart, That thought her like her seeming; it had been vicious To have mistrusted her.”
“Take no repulse, whatever she doth say; For, "get you gone," she doth not mean, "away." Flatter and praise, commend, extol their graces; Though ne'er so black, say they have angels' faces. That man that hath a tongue, I say, is no man, If with his tongue he cannot win a woman.”