--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: COMMENDATION n. The tribute that we pay…" description: "\"COMMENDATION n. The tribute that we pay to achievements that resembles but do not equal our own.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/ambrose-bierce-140_achievement_commendation-n-the-tribute-that-we-pay-t_107627.jpg" --- # COMMENDATION n. The tribute that we pay to achievements… ![“COMMENDATION n. The tribute that we pay to achievements that resembles but do not equal our own.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/ambrose-bierce-140_achievement_commendation-n-the-tribute-that-we-pay-t_107627.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/ambrose-bierce-140_achievement_commendation-n-the-tribute-that-we-pay-t_107627.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/ambrose-bierce-140_achievement_commendation-n-the-tribute-that-we-pay-t_107627.jpg) > “COMMENDATION n. The tribute that we pay to achievements that resembles but do not equal our own.” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Commendation celebrates achievements that resemble ours but are not identical, highlighting admiration without self‑congratulation. **In simple terms:** We praise similar successes without claiming they are ours. Key Takeaway Admire comparable achievements, not claim ownership. Themes recognition humility comparison social values Mood reflective respectful Type definition aphorism When to use this quote - award ceremonies - team meetings - public acknowledgments Key Concepts social validation self‑perception Practical Applications - use commendations to motivate peers - avoid inflating personal credit Questions to Reflect On - How does praising others' work affect our own growth? - Can excessive commendation dilute personal achievement? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Commendation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commendation/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Tribute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tribute/) ## Related quotes > [The emotional state that leads to achievements resembles that of a worshiper or the lover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-emotional-state-that-leads-to-achievements-resembles-that-of-a/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [VANITY, n. The tribute of a fool to the worth of the nearest ass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/vanity-n-the-tribute-of-a-fool-to-the-worth-of-the-nearest-ass/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [I pay tribute to John Major's achievement in persuading the other 11 Community Heads of Government that they could move ahead to a Social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/i-pay-tribute-to-john-major-s-achievement-in-persuading-the-other-11/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [The George Washington Masonic National Memorial is a fitting tribute to so great a man and Mason. Its message should be as prominent in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clausen/the-george-washington-masonic-national-memorial-is-a-fitting-tribute/) [Henry Clausen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clausen/) > [It's a historical phenomenon that in 250 years, a nation could move from a colony into the most prosperous nation of the world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/it-s-a-historical-phenomenon-that-in-250-years-a-nation-could-move/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [The love of admiration leads to fraud, much more than the love of commendation; but, on the other hand, the latter is much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/the-love-of-admiration-leads-to-fraud-much-more-than-the-love-of/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Seek the counsel of men who will tell you the truth about yourself, even if it hurts you to hear it. Mere commendation will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/seek-the-counsel-of-men-who-will-tell-you-the-truth-about-yourself/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [It is impossible that this gnosis resulting in the heart should be achieved by man for any other purpose than to obey God, love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-ata-allah/it-is-impossible-that-this-gnosis-resulting-in-the-heart-should-be/) [Ibn Ata Allah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-ata-allah/) > [“Take care of your back ahead of anyone ,dear friends.commendation and stabbing,Both get on this only.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachin-sawariya/take-care-of-your-back-ahead-of-anyone-dear-friends-commendation-and/) [Sachin sawariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachin-sawariya/) > [With me poetry has been not a purpose, but a passion; and the passions should be held in reverence: they must not they cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/with-me-poetry-has-been-not-a-purpose-but-a-passion-and-the-passions/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [Praise from an enemy is the most pleasing of all commendations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/praise-from-an-enemy-is-the-most-pleasing-of-all-commendations/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [“Every man wants to be appreciated, so do not just commend your secretary, commend your wife at home too The world judges people by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/every-man-wants-to-be-appreciated-so-do-not-just-commend-your/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“The best commendation of any work is to know that one has done the work that God has given him well and that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-best-commendation-of-any-work-is-to-know-that-one-has-done-the/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The censure of those who are opposed to us, is the highest commendation that can be given us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-saint-evremond/the-censure-of-those-who-are-opposed-to-us-is-the-highest/) [Charles de Saint-Evremond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-saint-evremond/) > [Chess never has been and never can be aught but a recreation. It should not be indulged in to the detriment of other and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-morphy/chess-never-has-been-and-never-can-be-aught-but-a-recreation-it/) [Paul Morphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-morphy/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Achievement quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) Chaz Brenchley > [The main substantive achievement of neoliberalism has been to redistribute rather than to generate wealth and income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-main-substantive-achievement-of-neoliberalism-has-been-to/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. But it seems that some people are trying to push the same agenda of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bassem-youssef/we-have-internet-now-and-people-are-not-stupid-but-it-seems-that-some/) [Bassem Youssef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bassem-youssef/) > [“If you find a way where there seems to be no way, that’s what we call miracle, not personal achievement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/if-you-find-a-way-where-there-seems-to-be-no-way-that-s-what-we-call/) [Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. 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