A fool flatters himself, a wise man flatters the fool.

We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter.

The public wants work which flatters its illusions.

One swallows the lie that flatters, but sips the bitter truth drop by drop.

An acquaintance merely enjoys your company, a fair-weather companion flatters when all is well, a true friend has your best interests at heart and the pluck to tell you what you need to hear.

That which attracts the world must please and pander to the self-importance of man. The world itself is a vain show, and likes its own. Consequently there is nothing which so carries the mass of men along with it as that which flatters the vanity of the human mind. It may assume the lowliest air, but sinful man seeks his own honour and present exaltation.

; the man who does not "understand" a woman is happy to replace his subjective deficiency with an objective resistance; instead of admitting his ignorance, he recognizes the presence of a mystery exterior to himself: here is an excuse that flatters his laziness and vanity at the same time.

A fool flatters himself a wise man flatters the fool.

We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter.

Nothing flatters a man as much as the happiness of his wife he is always proud of himself as the source of it.