What drink'st thou oft, instead of homage sweet,
But poisoned flattery?

What drink'st thou oft, instead of homage sweet,
But poisoned flattery?

Let flattery, the handmaid of the vices, be far removed (from
friendship).
[Lat., Assentatio, vitiorum adjutrix, procul amoveatur.]

Let flattery, the handmaid of the vices, be far removed (from
friendship).
[Lat., Assentatio, vitiorum adjutrix, procul amoveatur.]

Music, even in situations of the greatest horror, should never be painful to the ear but should flatter and charm read more

Music, even in situations of the greatest horror, should never be painful to the ear but should flatter and charm it, and thereby always remain music.

We sometimes think that we hate flattery, but we only hate the
manner in which it is done.
read more

We sometimes think that we hate flattery, but we only hate the
manner in which it is done.
[Fr., On croit quelquefoir hair la flatterie; maid on ne hait que
a maniere de flatter.]

By flatterers besieged
And so obliging that he ne'er obliged.

By flatterers besieged
And so obliging that he ne'er obliged.

Nature has hardly formed a woman ugly enough to be insensible to flattery upon her person.

Nature has hardly formed a woman ugly enough to be insensible to flattery upon her person.

They do not abuse the king that flatter him.
For flattery is the bellows blows up sin;
read more

They do not abuse the king that flatter him.
For flattery is the bellows blows up sin;
The thing the which is flattered, but a spark
To which that blast gives heat and stronger glowing;
Whereas reproof, obedient and in order,
Fits kings as they are men, for they may err.

When Fortune flatters, she does it to betray.

When Fortune flatters, she does it to betray.

Flattery is like cologne water, to be smelt of, not swallowed.

Flattery is like cologne water, to be smelt of, not swallowed.