--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It has well been said that the…" description: "\"It has well been said that the arch-flatterer, with whom all petty flatterers have intelligence, is a man's self.\" — Francis Bacon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/francis-bacon-297_arches_it-has-well-been-said-that-the-arch-flat_2967234.jpg" --- # It has well been said that the arch-flatterer, with whom… ![“It has well been said that the arch-flatterer, with whom all petty flatterers have intelligence, is a man's self.” quote by Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/francis-bacon-297_arches_it-has-well-been-said-that-the-arch-flat_2967234.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/francis-bacon-297_arches_it-has-well-been-said-that-the-arch-flat_2967234.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/francis-bacon-297_arches_it-has-well-been-said-that-the-arch-flat_2967234.jpg) > “It has well been said that the arch-flatterer, with whom all petty flatterers have intelligence, is a man's self.” [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People who flatter others often reflect their own self‑interest, revealing their true nature. **In simple terms:** Flatterers show themselves. Key Takeaway Beware of flattering as a sign of self‑interest. Themes self‑interest flattery human nature Mood cautious analytical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - political discourse - personal relationships - leadership - networking Key Concepts psychology ego social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Is the flatterer seeking personal gain? - How does self‑interest shape our interactions? A Different Perspective Flattery can be sincere in some contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arches/) [Flatterer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flatterer/) [Flatterer Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flatterer-petty-2059497/) [Flatterers Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flatterers-intelligence-2059496/) [Flattery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattery/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Intelligence Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence-man-554569/) [Man Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-self/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/petty/) [Petty Flatterers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/petty-flatterers-2059498/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [The arch-flatterer, with whom all the petty flatterers have intelligence, is a man's self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-arch-flatterer-with-whom-all-the-petty-flatterers-have/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [There is no such flatterer as is a man's self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/there-is-no-such-flatterer-as-is-a-man-s-self/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [There is as much difference between the counsel that a friend giveth, and that a man giveth himself, as there is between the counsel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/there-is-as-much-difference-between-the-counsel-that-a-friend-giveth/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [All authority must be out of a man's self, turned . . . either upon an art, or upon a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/all-authority-must-be-out-of-a-man-s-self-turned-either-upon-an-art/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“There is no need for intelligence of few man if everybody else is mad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mer-seyfettin/there-is-no-need-for-intelligence-of-few-man-if-everybody-else-is-mad/) [Ömer Seyfettin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mer-seyfettin/) > [The degree of intelligence that a man or a machine can show depends on many qualities of the ways that knowledge, goals, and problem-solving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-minsky/the-degree-of-intelligence-that-a-man-or-a-machine-can-show-depends/) [Marvin Minsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-minsky/) > [Fusion of the 5 elements to search for the higher intelligence, man walk around celebant, believing in relevant..the most benevolent king. -RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wu-tang/fusion-of-the-5-elements-to-search-for-the-higher-intelligence-man/) [Wu Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wu-tang/) > [The accidental causes of science are only accidents relatively to the intelligence of a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/the-accidental-causes-of-science-are-only-accidents-relatively-to-the/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [It is true intelligence for a man to take a subject that is mysterious and great in itself and to unfold and simplify it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/it-is-true-intelligence-for-a-man-to-take-a-subject-that-is/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [“Though he had both esteem and admiration for the sensibility of the human race, he had little respect for their intelligence: man has always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/though-he-had-both-esteem-and-admiration-for-the-sensibility-of-the/) [W. 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But it was vanity that made me choose painting, vanity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/i-should-have-been-i-don-t-know-a-con-man-a-robber-or-a-prostitute/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Wounds cannot be cured without searching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/wounds-cannot-be-cured-without-searching/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The French are wiser than they seem, and the Spaniards seem wiser than they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-french-are-wiser-than-they-seem-and-the-spaniards-seem-wiser-than/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [When a man laughs at his troubles he loses a great many friends. 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