The Certain Cure
Flattery is the best cure for deafness. –Paul Eldridge
Finding Out the Truth
Rule number two in public speaking: After a flattering introduction, never tell the audience you don’t deserve it. They’ll find out soon enough.
Flattery of a Tyrant
In ancient Greece, the politically crafty philosopher Aristippus had learned to get along in court by flattering the tyrant Denys. Aristippus looked down his nose at some of his less prosperous fellow philosophers and wise men who would not stoop that low. One day he saw his colleague Diogenes washing some vegetables and he said to him disdainfully: “If you would only learn to flatter King Denys, you would not have to be washing lentils.”
Diogenes looked up slowly and in the same tone replied, “And you, if you had only learned to live on lentils, would not have to flatter King Denys.”
Truth Hidden by Flattery
We hate the hypocrite more keenly than the mere liar because the hypocrite adds to his lie the lacquer of flattery which we are gullible enough to accept as tribute to our merit. –Paul Eldridge
Not to Be Consumed
Flattery is like chewing gum—enjoy it briefly, but don’t swallow it!
The Heart of Flattery
Flatterer: One who extremely exaggerates in his opinion of your qualities, so that it may come nearer to your opinion of them. –Oscar Wilde