Currents Quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld
“Flattery is false money, which would not be current were it not for our vanity.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Maximes, 1665
Flattery is a superficial exchange that only persists because people crave ego boosts.
In simple terms: Flattery works because of vanity.
Key Takeaway
Beware of insincere praise.
Themes
vanity
deception
social interaction
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
observational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- workplace
- political discourse
Key Concepts
psychology
ego
authenticity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does vanity drive flattery?
- When is flattery harmful?
A Different Perspective
Flattery can mask true intentions and create dependency.
![“We sometimes think that we hate flattery, but we only hate the manner in which it is done. [Fr., On croit quelquefoir hair la flatterie; maid on ne hait que a maniere de flatter.]” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f92/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_done_we-sometimes-think-that-we-hate-flattery_815207.jpg)
![“The young man [Turgot] destined for an ecclesiastical career was placed within walls carefully designed to keep out all currents of new thought; his studies, his reading, his professors, his associates, all were combined to keep from him any results of observation or reflection save those…” quote by Andrew Dickson White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5d4/andrew-dickson-white-24254_associates_the-young-man-turgot-destined-for-an-ecc_3146.jpg)
