“It is a maxim in the schools,
That flattery is the food of fools.”
They that love flattery will have cause to repent of their foible
in the long run; and yet how few there are among the whole race of
mankind, who are proof against its attacks. The gross way in which it
is managed by some silly practitioners, is enough to alarm the dullest
apprehension; but let the ambuscade be disposed with judgment, and it
will scarcely fail of seizing the most guarded heart. How many are
tickled to the last degree with the pleasure of flattery, even while
they are applauded for their honest detestation of it. There is no
way to baffle the force of this engine, but by every one’s examining
impartially for himself, the true estimate of his own qualities. If he
deal sincerely in the matter, nobody can tell so well as himself, what
degree of esteem ought to attend any of his actions; and therefore he
should be entirely easy as to the opinion others have of them. If they
attribute more to him than is his due, they are either designing, or
mistaken; if they allow him less, they are envious, or possibly still
mistaken; and in either case are to be despised or disregarded: for he
that flatters without designing to make advantage of it, is a fool;
and whoever encourages that flattery which he has sense enough to see
through, is a vain coxcomb.
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