--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And are you going to explain why you…" description: "\"“And are you going to explain why you consider competing with me to be the most sincere form of compliment?” “Of course I am,” Lightsong said. “My dear..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/brandon-sanderson-112_humorous_and-are-you-going-to-explain-why-you-con_695609.jpg" --- # And are you going to explain why you consider competing… ![“And are you going to explain why you consider competing with me to be the most sincere form of compliment?” “Of course I am,” Lightsong said. “My dear, have you ever known me to make an inflammatorily ridiculous statement without providing an equally ridiculous explanation to substantiate it?” “Of…” quote by Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/brandon-sanderson-112_humorous_and-are-you-going-to-explain-why-you-con_695609.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/brandon-sanderson-112_humorous_and-are-you-going-to-explain-why-you-con_695609.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/brandon-sanderson-112_humorous_and-are-you-going-to-explain-why-you-con_695609.jpg) > ““And are you going to explain why you consider competing with me to be the most sincere form of compliment?” “Of course I am,” Lightsong said. “My dear, have you ever known me to make an inflammatorily ridiculous statement without providing an equally ridiculous explanation to substantiate it?” “Of course not,” she agreed. “You are nothing if not exhaustive in your self-congratulatory made-up logic.” “I am rather exceptional in that regard.”” [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character challenges another to justify a flattery that feels like rivalry, exposing the absurdity of over‑the‑top compliments. **In simple terms:** Questioning insincere compliments reveals hidden rivalry. Key Takeaway Beware of compliments that mask competition. Themes competition compliment logic self‑congratulation Mood witty critical playful Type dialogue literary When to use this quote - political negotiations - creative writing - team dynamics - personal relationships Key Concepts rhetoric psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Do you recognize when praise is a veiled challenge? - How does humor affect power dynamics? A Different Perspective The exchange may be playful banter rather than serious critique. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compliment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compliment/) [Form Compliment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form-compliment-3057000/) [Humorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous/) [Lightsong Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lightsong-said-803010/) [Ridiculous Statement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridiculous-statement-1493469/) [Self Congratulatory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-congratulatory-406127/) ## Related quotes > [“My dear, have you ever known me to make an inflammatorily ridiculous statement without providing an equally ridiculous explanation to substantiate it?” “Of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/my-dear-have-you-ever-known-me-to-make-an-inflammatorily-ridiculous/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“Giving her ten thousand Lifeless is enough to make even me consider my drunk-monkey theory.” “The one who chooses names and titles of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/giving-her-ten-thousand-lifeless-is-enough-to-make-even-me-consider/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“Then that is your problem, I surmise,” Lightsong said. “We’re gods, my dear, and we quickly grow tired of our immortal existences. Surely we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/then-that-is-your-problem-i-surmise-lightsong-said-we-re-gods-my-dear/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“She’s only seventeen years old,” Llarimar said. “I can’t imagine being married to the God King at her age.” “I can’t imagine you being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/she-s-only-seventeen-years-old-llarimar-said-i-can-t-imagine-being/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“I swear, my dear. Sometimes our conversations remind me of a broken sword." She raised an eyebrow. "Sharp as hell," Lightsong said, "but lacking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/i-swear-my-dear-sometimes-our-conversations-remind-me-of-a-broken/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“Regardless, you ask why I did not greet you. Well, let us assume that I had acted as you suggest I should. Upon your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/regardless-you-ask-why-i-did-not-greet-you-well-let-us-assume-that-i/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [Irony is an insult conveyed in the form of a compliment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/irony-is-an-insult-conveyed-in-the-form-of-a-compliment/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You are nothing if not exhaustive in your self-congratulatory made-up logic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/you-are-nothing-if-not-exhaustive-in-your-self-congratulatory-made-up/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“Your mother was the love of my life. Not everyone gets to have that. I did. Yes, I miss her, but I’m happier being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-guzeman/your-mother-was-the-love-of-my-life-not-everyone-gets-to-have-that-i/) [Tracy Guzeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-guzeman/) > [I made a ridiculous statement when I first went to North Carolina State. I said I know basketball down there was like life or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-valvano/i-made-a-ridiculous-statement-when-i-first-went-to-north-carolina/) [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) > [The 'wisdom of the crowds' is the most ridiculous statement I've heard in my life. Crowds are dumb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-curtis/the-wisdom-of-the-crowds-is-the-most-ridiculous-statement-i-ve-heard/) [Drew Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-curtis/) > [“Miss Dearly, please understand! You're in danger! I'm here to help you..your father would want me to help you!" This was such a ridiculous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-habel/miss-dearly-please-understand-you-re-in-danger-i-m-here-to-help-you/) [Lia Habel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-habel/) > [Criticism is valuable... and self-congratulatory experiences are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/criticism-is-valuable-and-self-congratulatory-experiences-are-not/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [“Correct. That’s the Sucker Effect. You do something, while making the audience think you did something else. So they’re all busy feeling self-congratulatory that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-wilkinson/correct-that-s-the-sucker-effect-you-do-something-while-making-the/) [Lili Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-wilkinson/) > [If we allow our self-congratulatory adoration of technology to distract us from our own contact with each other, then somehow the original agenda has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaron-lanier/if-we-allow-our-self-congratulatory-adoration-of-technology-to/) [Jaron Lanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaron-lanier/) ## More by Brandon Sanderson > [“I’ll admit, Jasnah, that I empathize with your skepticism, but I don’t agree with it. I just think you've been looking for God in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/i-ll-admit-jasnah-that-i-empathize-with-your-skepticism-but-i-don-t/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [They say a man doesn't know himself until he faces death for the first time. . . I don't know about that. It seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/they-say-a-man-doesn-t-know-himself-until-he-faces-death-for-the/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“I wasn’t a nerd, mind you, but I’d spent a lot of my youth studying Epics, so I’d had limited experience with social interaction.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/i-wasn-t-a-nerd-mind-you-but-i-d-spent-a-lot-of-my-youth-studying/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“Why, Elend! That’s almost romantic—in a twisted ‘I’m going to make my wife want to kill me’ sort of way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/why-elend-that-s-almost-romantic-in-a-twisted-i-m-going-to-make-my/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“And...how much are we getting paid for achieving the impossible?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/and-how-much-are-we-getting-paid-for-achieving-the-impossible/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“Elantris was the one place where she could remember feeling unconditional acceptance. She had not been a princess, she had been something far better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/elantris-was-the-one-place-where-she-could-remember-feeling/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“Elend smiled. "Oh, come on. You have to admit that you're unusual, Vin. You're like some strange mixture of a noblewoman, a street urchin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/elend-smiled-oh-come-on-you-have-to-admit-that-you-re-unusual-vin-you/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“That is always how it is, though, isn't it?” Shuden asked. “Those who can least afford extravagance seem to be the ones most determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/that-is-always-how-it-is-though-isn-t-it-shuden-asked-those-who-can/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“He says he’s letting the Stormfather judge you,” Moash added. “Jezerezeh, king of Heralds. He says that if you deserve to live, you will….”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/he-says-he-s-letting-the-stormfather-judge-you-moash-added-jezerezeh/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“The stories say the Nightwatcher might be capable of that. . . . Powerful spren. Vast spren.’ ‘Is he calling me vast?’ Syl said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/the-stories-say-the-nightwatcher-might-be-capable-of-that-powerful/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“But the mark of a great man is one who knows when to set aside the important things in order to accomplish the vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/but-the-mark-of-a-great-man-is-one-who-knows-when-to-set-aside-the/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“My life to yours. My breath beecome yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/my-life-to-yours-my-breath-beecome-yours/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“If you're always on time, it implies that you never have anything better you should be doing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/if-you-re-always-on-time-it-implies-that-you-never-have-anything/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [You are inexperienced. So was I, once. So is every man. The measure of a person is not how much they have lived. .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/you-are-inexperienced-so-was-i-once-so-is-every-man-the-measure-of-a/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“So I should not hate Adolin Kholin for wielding a corpse!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/so-i-should-not-hate-adolin-kholin-for-wielding-a-corpse/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) [Explore all 1,238 Brandon Sanderson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) ## More Compliment quotes > [Hot legs, bring your Mother, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/hot-legs-bring-your-mother-too/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) > [I see the joy in life and I see the joy in simple things. I over-compliment. I over-praise. I over-express my feelings toward people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-lansing/i-see-the-joy-in-life-and-i-see-the-joy-in-simple-things-i-over/) [Sherry Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-lansing/) > [The words I LOVE YOU, sometimes fooled us... But when someone says I TRUST YOU.. That's a better compliment, a true care with faith...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reolope/the-words-i-love-you-sometimes-fooled-us-but-when-someone-says-i/) [Janet Reolope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reolope/) > [Sometimes after a compliment about my characterization skills, I'm asked if I model my characters on real people. Emphatically, no. And sort of, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/sometimes-after-a-compliment-about-my-characterization-skills-i-m/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [I've got the public. I don't care about the critics. I did at one time. I don't any more. I did when I needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/i-ve-got-the-public-i-don-t-care-about-the-critics-i-did-at-one-time/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [When one is frank, one's very presence is a compliment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-moore/when-one-is-frank-one-s-very-presence-is-a-compliment/) [Marianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-moore/) > [Well, I think every now and again, some people deserve to get their butts chewed. Every now and again some people deserve a pat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/well-i-think-every-now-and-again-some-people-deserve-to-get-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are searching for the same thing,” Stripey said. “How do you know?” Janco asked. “I read his mind.” The Sitian pointed to Ari.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/we-are-searching-for-the-same-thing-stripey-said-how-do-you-know/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [“Even if you are a pompous ass with no respect for authority, you're worth fifty men, and I mean to see you in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/even-if-you-are-a-pompous-ass-with-no-respect-for-authority-you-re/) [Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/) > [You're better off owning 30 percent and having two amazing partners who compliment you and are equally as driven as you are than having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-dyrdek/you-re-better-off-owning-30-percent-and-having-two-amazing-partners/) [Rob Dyrdek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-dyrdek/) > [The three of us just try put our heads down and stay creative. The awards truly are just cake. It's one of those things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-scott/the-three-of-us-just-try-put-our-heads-down-and-stay-creative-the/) [Hillary Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-scott/) > [Your eyes are like two jewels in the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/your-eyes-are-like-two-jewels-in-the-sky/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I've made this conscious decision to tell people on the street when I think they're wearing something great. If more people did that, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-jensen/i-ve-made-this-conscious-decision-to-tell-people-on-the-street-when-i/) [Ashley Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-jensen/) > [“Why did you decide to be an architect?" "I didn't know it then. But it's because I've never believed in God." "Come on, talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/why-did-you-decide-to-be-an-architect-i-didn-t-know-it-then-but-it-s/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [When two people compliment each other with the choice of anything, each of them generally gets that which he likes least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/when-two-people-compliment-each-other-with-the-choice-of-anything/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) [Browse all 1,338 Compliment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compliment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“And are you going to explain why you consider competing with me to be the most sincere form of compliment?” “Of course I am,” Lightsong said. “My dear, have you ever known me to make an inflammatorily ridiculous statement without providing an equally ridiculous explanation to substantiate it?” “Of course not,” she agreed. “You are nothing if not exhaustive in your self-congratulatory made-up logic.” “I am rather exceptional in that regard.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brandon Sanderson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/and-are-you-going-to-explain-why-you-consider-competing-with-me-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compliment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/and-are-you-going-to-explain-why-you-consider-competing-with-me-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/brandon-sanderson-112_humorous_and-are-you-going-to-explain-why-you-con_695609.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/brandon-sanderson-112_humorous_and-are-you-going-to-explain-why-you-con_695609.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/brandon-sanderson-112_humorous_and-are-you-going-to-explain-why-you-con_695609.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And are you going to explain why you consider competing with me to be the most sincere form of compliment?”…” — Brandon Sanderson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Brandon Sanderson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“And are you going to explain...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/and-are-you-going-to-explain-why-you-consider-competing-with-me-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/and-are-you-going-to-explain-why-you-consider-competing-with-me-to-be/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```