Never, never disappoint a woman.
* * *
Spontaneous admiration is the sincerest flattery. Those who know this,
affect spontaneity. But it requires much art to conceal this art.
You will oftener err upon the side of ultra-delicacy in a compliment that
upon the side of bare-facedness.
Do not imagine that excessive admiration can give offence. But remember
that
The eye can netter express admiration than can the tongue.
The publicity with which a woman will receive admiration from a
male admirer 144 often is sufficient to astonish that admirer. But
Often enough it is the admiration, not the admirer, that a woman covets.
Indeed,
Many a woman is in love with love (3), but not her lover. But this no
lover can be got to comprehend.
To flatter by deprecating a rival is a complement of extremely doubtful
efficacy.
(3) I seem to remember that somebody before has said something like this
before.
* * *
A woman does not admire too clement a conqueror. She admits the right to
ovation, and to him who waives it she lightly regards.
* * *
Seek no stepping-stones unless you mean to cross:
He who gathers stepping-stones and refrains from crossing is contempted
of women. Indeed,
Every advance of which advantage is not taken, is in reality a retreat.
And remember, too, that though