--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Flattery is a counterfeit money which…" description: "\"Flattery is a counterfeit money which, but for vanity, would have no circulation.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_circulation_flattery-is-a-counterfeit-money-which-bu_2967058.png" --- # Flattery is a counterfeit money which, but for vanity… ![“Flattery is a counterfeit money which, but for vanity, would have no circulation.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_circulation_flattery-is-a-counterfeit-money-which-bu_2967058.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_circulation_flattery-is-a-counterfeit-money-which-bu_2967058.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_circulation_flattery-is-a-counterfeit-money-which-bu_2967058.png) > “Flattery is a counterfeit money which, but for vanity, would have no circulation.” [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Flattery is likened to worthless money that circulates only when vanity fuels it. **In simple terms:** Flattery is empty praise that only works if you care about it. Key Takeaway Seek genuine feedback, not empty praise. Themes vanity insincerity social dynamics Mood critical thoughtful Type social philosophical When to use this quote - workplace - politics - personal relationships Key Concepts flattery currency authenticity Questions to Reflect On - When have you accepted flattery? - How can you discern sincere praise? A Different Perspective Flattery can still be useful if it builds morale. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Counterfeit money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/counterfeit-money/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Flattery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattery/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/) ## Related quotes > [Flattery is counterfeit, and like counterfeit money, it will eventually get you into trouble if you pass it to someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/flattery-is-counterfeit-and-like-counterfeit-money-it-will-eventually/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [Flattery is a kind of bad money, to which our vanity gives us currency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/flattery-is-a-kind-of-bad-money-to-which-our-vanity-gives-us-currency/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“The idea of money is older than the idea of counterfeit money, but older, perhaps, by no more than a few minutes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-clair-mckelway/the-idea-of-money-is-older-than-the-idea-of-counterfeit-money-but/) St. Clair McKelway > [Taking somebody's sacrifices is like taking counterfeit money. You're only the poorer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-canfield-fisher/taking-somebody-s-sacrifices-is-like-taking-counterfeit-money-you-re/) [Dorothy Canfield Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-canfield-fisher/) > [If you want to get rid of counterfeit money, put it in the collection plate at church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/if-you-want-to-get-rid-of-counterfeit-money-put-it-in-the-collection/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Far graver is it to corrupt the faith that is the life of the soul than to counterfeit the money that sustains temporal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/far-graver-is-it-to-corrupt-the-faith-that-is-the-life-of-the-soul/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Someone like Jean-Luc Godard is for me intellectual counterfeit money when compared to a good kung fu film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/someone-like-jean-luc-godard-is-for-me-intellectual-counterfeit-money/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [Men make counterfeit money; in many more cases, money makes counterfeit men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/men-make-counterfeit-money-in-many-more-cases-money-makes-counterfeit/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“It's a shame, when I'm at the checkout line, and the cashier holds up my bill to the light, in search for a ghost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/it-s-a-shame-when-i-m-at-the-checkout-line-and-the-cashier-holds-up/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [Calumny is like counterfeit money; many people who would not coin it circulate it without qualms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-de-poitiers/calumny-is-like-counterfeit-money-many-people-who-would-not-coin-it/) [Diane de Poitiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-de-poitiers/) > [When men do not have healthy notions of the Divinity, false ideas supplant them, just as in bad times one uses counterfeit money when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/when-men-do-not-have-healthy-notions-of-the-divinity-false-ideas/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Our universities should produce good criticism; they do not or, at best, they do so only as federal prisons produce counterfeit money: a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-jarrell/our-universities-should-produce-good-criticism-they-do-not-or-at-best/) [Randall Jarrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-jarrell/) > [I would gladly chastise those who represent things as different from what they are. Those who steal property or make counterfeit money are punished,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-would-gladly-chastise-those-who-represent-things-as-different-from/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [Oaths are the counterfeit money with which we pay the sacrifice of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/oaths-are-the-counterfeit-money-with-which-we-pay-the-sacrifice-of/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Love based upon money and vanity forms the most stubborn of passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/love-based-upon-money-and-vanity-forms-the-most-stubborn-of-passions/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## More by Francois de La Rochefoucauld > [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/behind-many-acts-that-are-thought-ridiculous-there-lie-wise-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/) [François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-almost-always-wearied-in-the-company-of-persons-with-whom-we/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-intention-of-never-deceiving-often-exposes-us-to-deception/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-springs-more-from-love-of-self-than-from-love-of-another/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-distrust-of-another-justifies-his-deceit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/no-persons-are-more-frequently-wrong-than-those-who-will-not-admit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-is-always-born-with-love-but-does-not-die-with-it-in/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-greatest-of-all-gifts-is-the-power-to-estimate-things-at-their/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-have-not-strength-enough-to-follow-our-reason-so-far-as-it-would/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) [Explore all 1,134 Francois de La Rochefoucauld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## More Circulation quotes > [There are different kinds of fire; there is false fire. No one knows this better than we do, but we are not such fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-booth/there-are-different-kinds-of-fire-there-is-false-fire-no-one-knows/) [William Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-booth/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Establish an atmosphere that energizes you. Some creative people flourish in confusion; others need to be free from interruption. Many prepare themselves for work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-leland/establish-an-atmosphere-that-energizes-you-some-creative-people/) [Nita Leland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-leland/) > [When I first prepared this particular talk... I realized that my usual approach is usually critical. That is, a lot of the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/when-i-first-prepared-this-particular-talk-i-realized-that-my-usual/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [The monopoly of a single bank is certainly an evil. The multiplication of them was intended to cure it; but it multiplied an influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-monopoly-of-a-single-bank-is-certainly-an-evil-the-multiplication/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ It was at Harvard not quite forty years ago that I went into an anechoic \[totally silent\] chamber not expecting in that silent room… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/it-was-at-harvard-not-quite-forty-years-ago-that-i-went-into-an/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [The moment man cuts himself off from living connection with the human race and its needs, he begins to die from poor circulation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/the-moment-man-cuts-himself-off-from-living-connection-with-the-human/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [Narration is as much a part of human nature as breath and the circulation of the blood… storytelling is intrinsic to biological time, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt-2/narration-is-as-much-a-part-of-human-nature-as-breath-and-the/) [A. S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt-2/) > [These numerous points at which money is withdrawn from circulation and accumulated in numerous individual hoards or potential money-capitals appears as so many obstacles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/these-numerous-points-at-which-money-is-withdrawn-from-circulation/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [If all bank loans were paid, there would not be a dollar of coin or currency in circulation. Someone has to borrow every dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-hemphill/if-all-bank-loans-were-paid-there-would-not-be-a-dollar-of-coin-or/) Robert W. Hemphill > [Never for a moment do we lay aside our mistrust of the ideals established by society, and of the convictions which are kept by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/never-for-a-moment-do-we-lay-aside-our-mistrust-of-the-ideals/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Money possesses no value to the state other than that given to it by circulation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/money-possesses-no-value-to-the-state-other-than-that-given-to-it-by/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [What you're looking at there is my arm, going into the rock... and there it is - stuck. It's been without circulation for 24…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-ralston/what-you-re-looking-at-there-is-my-arm-going-into-the-rock-and-there/) [Aron Ralston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-ralston/) > [What I find really works for me is dry body brushing; it helps improve the circulation and exfoliates your skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kerr/what-i-find-really-works-for-me-is-dry-body-brushing-it-helps-improve/) [Miranda Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kerr/) > [Sophos turned red, and I wondered about the circulation of his blood; maybe his body kept an extra supply of it in his head,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/sophos-turned-red-and-i-wondered-about-the-circulation-of-his-blood/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) Browse all 225 Circulation quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Flattery is a counterfeit money which, but for vanity, would have no circulation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/flattery-is-a-counterfeit-money-which-but-for-vanity-would-have-no/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Circulation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/flattery-is-a-counterfeit-money-which-but-for-vanity-would-have-no/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_circulation_flattery-is-a-counterfeit-money-which-bu_2967058.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_circulation_flattery-is-a-counterfeit-money-which-bu_2967058.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_circulation_flattery-is-a-counterfeit-money-which-bu_2967058.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Flattery is a counterfeit money which, but for vanity, would have no circulation.” — Francois de La Rochefoucauld", "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": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Flattery is a counterfeit money which,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/flattery-is-a-counterfeit-money-which-but-for-vanity-would-have-no/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/flattery-is-a-counterfeit-money-which-but-for-vanity-would-have-no/#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 } } ] } ```