--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Abject flattery and indiscriminate…" description: "\"Abject flattery and indiscriminate assentation degrade, as much as indiscriminate contradiction and noisy debate disgust. But a modest assertion of one..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/doug-stanhope-1528_acquiescence_abject-flattery-and-indiscriminate-assen_942913.png" --- # Abject flattery and indiscriminate assentation degrade, as… ![“Abject flattery and indiscriminate assentation degrade, as much as indiscriminate contradiction and noisy debate disgust. But a modest assertion of one's own opinion, and a complaisant acquiescence in other people's, preserve dignity.” quote by Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/doug-stanhope-1528_acquiescence_abject-flattery-and-indiscriminate-assen_942913.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/doug-stanhope-1528_acquiescence_abject-flattery-and-indiscriminate-assen_942913.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/doug-stanhope-1528_acquiescence_abject-flattery-and-indiscriminate-assen_942913.png) > “Abject flattery and indiscriminate assentation degrade, as much as indiscriminate contradiction and noisy debate disgust. But a modest assertion of one's own opinion, and a complaisant acquiescence in other people's, preserve dignity.” [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests that both excessive flattery and relentless criticism erode dignity; modest self‑assertion and respectful disagreement preserve it. **In simple terms:** Flattery and criticism harm dignity; modesty and respect protect it. Key Takeaway Practice respectful dialogue and humility. Themes communication dignity humility debate Mood cynical humorous Type social commentary inspirational When to use this quote - workplace meetings - online discussions - public debates Key Concepts respectful disagreement self‑assertion moderation Questions to Reflect On - How can you assert opinions without alienating others? - What balance maintains dignity in heated debates? A Different Perspective People may misinterpret modesty as weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquiescence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquiescence/) [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Flattery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattery/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) ## Related quotes > [All that the Devil asks is acquiescence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-massie/all-that-the-devil-asks-is-acquiescence/) [Suzanne Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-massie/) > [“All the devil asks is acquiescence; not conflict, not struggle. Acquiescence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-massie/all-the-devil-asks-is-acquiescence-not-conflict-not-struggle/) [Suzanne Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-massie/) > [Evil is near. Sometimes late at night the air grows strongly clammy and cold around me. I feel it brushing me. All that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-massie/evil-is-near-sometimes-late-at-night-the-air-grows-strongly-clammy/) [Suzanne Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-massie/) > [The ways of Providence being inscrutable, and the justice of it not to be scanned by the shallow eye of humanity, nor to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-ways-of-providence-being-inscrutable-and-the-justice-of-it-not-to/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Establish the eternal truth that acquiescence under insult is not the way to escape war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/establish-the-eternal-truth-that-acquiescence-under-insult-is-not-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“It can come a bit hard sometimes to see one's own unique, heroic life pinned so pitilessly to a wall. At other times it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/it-can-come-a-bit-hard-sometimes-to-see-one-s-own-unique-heroic-life/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [Neither acquiescence in skepticism nor acquiescence in dogma is what education should produce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/neither-acquiescence-in-skepticism-nor-acquiescence-in-dogma-is-what/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I'm terrified of passive acquiescence. I live in intensity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/i-m-terrified-of-passive-acquiescence-i-live-in-intensity/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [Ladies and gentlemen, even my own staff challenges me. When I issue edicts, commands, orders, ideas, you would think that there would be overwhelming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/ladies-and-gentlemen-even-my-own-staff-challenges-me-when-i-issue/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Suicide is belated acquiescence in the opinion of one's wife's relatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/suicide-is-belated-acquiescence-in-the-opinion-of-one-s-wife-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The employers cannot carry on industry nor accumulate profits if they have not got the good will of the workers or their acquiescence in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-larkin/the-employers-cannot-carry-on-industry-nor-accumulate-profits-if-they/) [James Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-larkin/) > [ \[The purpose of a written constitution is\] to bind up the several branches of government by certain laws, which, when they transgress, their acts… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-purpose-of-a-written-constitution-is-to-bind-up-the-several/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“The submission which you demand of yourself to the general fact of evil in the world, your apparent acquiescence in it, is here nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/the-submission-which-you-demand-of-yourself-to-the-general-fact-of/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [What subsists to-day by violence continues to-morrow by acquiescence and is perpetuated by tradition; till at last the hoary abuse shakes the gray hairs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-everett/what-subsists-to-day-by-violence-continues-to-morrow-by-acquiescence/) [Edward Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-everett/) > [There is no such thing as real happiness in life. The justest definition that was ever given of it was "a tranquil acquiescence under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/there-is-no-such-thing-as-real-happiness-in-life-the-justest/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) ## More by Doug Stanhope > [I had no musical or athletic ability, and I wasn't particularly good looking. Comedy was something I could do for attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-had-no-musical-or-athletic-ability-and-i-wasn-t-particularly-good/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [Jesus died for your sins. I'm doing it for your mere entertainment dollar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/jesus-died-for-your-sins-i-m-doing-it-for-your-mere-entertainment/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [I believe that everyone should be treated as an individual. Women should be treated equally in the right to vote, sure. But if Im…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-believe-that-everyone-should-be-treated-as-an-individual-women/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [They say 'life is precious'. To who? To you, when you're young and you've got a few dollars in your pocket. Tell that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/they-say-life-is-precious-to-who-to-you-when-you-re-young-and-you-ve/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [The ultimate act of cowardice is the fat-headed wrestling guy sitting behind the frail kid in math class, clipping him on the ear, saying:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/the-ultimate-act-of-cowardice-is-the-fat-headed-wrestling-guy-sitting/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [There's no such thing as addiction, there's only things that you enjoy doing more than life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/there-s-no-such-thing-as-addiction-there-s-only-things-that-you-enjoy/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [ The whole acting and Hollywood \[thing\], it's just work to me. Stand-up comedy ruins you so badly for doing television. I don't really need… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/the-whole-acting-and-hollywood-thing-it-s-just-work-to-me-stand-up/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [You should laugh everywhere you can find even the slightest glimmer of humour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/you-should-laugh-everywhere-you-can-find-even-the-slightest-glimmer/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [I have no fear of death, except I hate waiting for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-have-no-fear-of-death-except-i-hate-waiting-for-it/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [Everybody's angry. They've got nothing to be angry at, so they're angry about nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/everybody-s-angry-they-ve-got-nothing-to-be-angry-at-so-they-re-angry/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [People who want to kill other people are the last people I want to party with, because I get mouthy when I drink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/people-who-want-to-kill-other-people-are-the-last-people-i-want-to/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [Democracy is the worst kind of government, I'm sorry. Would you still call yourself a Christian if they elected a new Jesus every four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/democracy-is-the-worst-kind-of-government-i-m-sorry-would-you-still/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [You forget, when you're in the Scandinavian countries, you forget they don't speak English first and they speak better than I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/you-forget-when-you-re-in-the-scandinavian-countries-you-forget-they/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [Life's temporary for a reason, it gets boring after awhile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/life-s-temporary-for-a-reason-it-gets-boring-after-awhile/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [The more business gets involved, the less fun it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/the-more-business-gets-involved-the-less-fun-it-is/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) [Explore all 230 Doug Stanhope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) ## More Acquiescence quotes > [All that the Devil asks is acquiescence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-massie/all-that-the-devil-asks-is-acquiescence/) [Suzanne Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-massie/) > [What subsists to-day by violence continues to-morrow by acquiescence and is perpetuated by tradition; till at last the hoary abuse shakes the gray hairs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-everett/what-subsists-to-day-by-violence-continues-to-morrow-by-acquiescence/) [Edward Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-everett/) > [“The submission which you demand of yourself to the general fact of evil in the world, your apparent acquiescence in it, is here nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/the-submission-which-you-demand-of-yourself-to-the-general-fact-of/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [ \[The purpose of a written constitution is\] to bind up the several branches of government by certain laws, which, when they transgress, their acts… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-purpose-of-a-written-constitution-is-to-bind-up-the-several/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The employers cannot carry on industry nor accumulate profits if they have not got the good will of the workers or their acquiescence in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-larkin/the-employers-cannot-carry-on-industry-nor-accumulate-profits-if-they/) [James Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-larkin/) > [Suicide is belated acquiescence in the opinion of one's wife's relatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/suicide-is-belated-acquiescence-in-the-opinion-of-one-s-wife-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ladies and gentlemen, even my own staff challenges me. When I issue edicts, commands, orders, ideas, you would think that there would be overwhelming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/ladies-and-gentlemen-even-my-own-staff-challenges-me-when-i-issue/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I'm terrified of passive acquiescence. I live in intensity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/i-m-terrified-of-passive-acquiescence-i-live-in-intensity/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [Neither acquiescence in skepticism nor acquiescence in dogma is what education should produce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/neither-acquiescence-in-skepticism-nor-acquiescence-in-dogma-is-what/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“It can come a bit hard sometimes to see one's own unique, heroic life pinned so pitilessly to a wall. At other times it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/it-can-come-a-bit-hard-sometimes-to-see-one-s-own-unique-heroic-life/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [Establish the eternal truth that acquiescence under insult is not the way to escape war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/establish-the-eternal-truth-that-acquiescence-under-insult-is-not-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The ways of Providence being inscrutable, and the justice of it not to be scanned by the shallow eye of humanity, nor to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-ways-of-providence-being-inscrutable-and-the-justice-of-it-not-to/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Evil is near. Sometimes late at night the air grows strongly clammy and cold around me. I feel it brushing me. All that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-massie/evil-is-near-sometimes-late-at-night-the-air-grows-strongly-clammy/) [Suzanne Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-massie/) > [“All the devil asks is acquiescence; not conflict, not struggle. Acquiescence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-massie/all-the-devil-asks-is-acquiescence-not-conflict-not-struggle/) [Suzanne Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-massie/) > [There is no such thing as real happiness in life. The justest definition that was ever given of it was "a tranquil acquiescence under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/there-is-no-such-thing-as-real-happiness-in-life-the-justest/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) [Browse all 69 Acquiescence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquiescence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Abject flattery and indiscriminate assentation degrade, as much as indiscriminate contradiction and noisy debate disgust. 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