---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Flattery is false coin that is only…"
description: "\"Flattery is false coin that is only current thanks to our vanity.\" — François De La Rochefoucauld"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_flattery_flattery-is-false-coin-that-is-only-curr_2110680.png"
---

#  Flattery is false coin that is only current thanks to our…

![“Flattery is false coin that is only current thanks to our vanity.” quote by François De La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_flattery_flattery-is-false-coin-that-is-only-curr_2110680.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_flattery_flattery-is-false-coin-that-is-only-curr_2110680.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_flattery_flattery-is-false-coin-that-is-only-curr_2110680.png)

> “Flattery is false coin that is only current thanks to our vanity.”

[François 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 works only because people are vain and crave admiration.

**In simple terms:** Flattery succeeds due to vanity.

Key Takeaway

Beware of insincere praise.

Themes

vanity flattery social influence

Mood

cynical critical

Type

social psychological

When to use this quote

- political speeches
- social media
- workplace compliments

Key Concepts

psychology ego manipulation

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do we seek validation?
- When is praise genuine?

A Different Perspective

Flattery can be manipulative.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[False Coin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/false-coin-3535968/) [Flattery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattery/) [Flattery False](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattery-false-3224787/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Thanks Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanks-vanity-4258733/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/)

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> [There is nothing in the world more difficult than candor, and nothing easier than flattery. If there is a hundredth of a fraction of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-nothing-in-the-world-more-difficult-than-candor-and-nothing/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Who is it that does not voluntarily exchange his health, his repose, and his very life for reputation and glory? The most useless, frivolous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/who-is-it-that-does-not-voluntarily-exchange-his-health-his-repose/)

[Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/)

> [God (in His mercy) accepts false coin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/god-in-his-mercy-accepts-false-coin/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

> [The ring of a false coin is not more recognizable than that of a rhyme setting forth a false sorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-bailey-aldrich/the-ring-of-a-false-coin-is-not-more-recognizable-than-that-of-a/)

[Thomas Bailey Aldrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-bailey-aldrich/)

> [“Every touch a lie. I have paid her so much false coin that she half thinks she's rich.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/every-touch-a-lie-i-have-paid-her-so-much-false-coin-that-she-half/)

[George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/)

> [Solitude is the surest nurse of all prurient passions, and a girl in the hurry of preparation, or tumult of gaiety, has neither inclination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/solitude-is-the-surest-nurse-of-all-prurient-passions-and-a-girl-in/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [Flattery is a base coin which is current only through our vanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/flattery-is-a-base-coin-which-is-current-only-through-our-vanity/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [“What a situation!' cried Miss Squeers; '...What is the reason that men fall in love with me, whether I like it or not, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/what-a-situation-cried-miss-squeers-what-is-the-reason-that-men-fall/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [What makes the vanity of others insupportable is that it wounds our own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/what-makes-the-vanity-of-others-insupportable-is-that-it-wounds-our/)

[François De La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Virtue would not go to such lengths if vanity did not keep her company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/virtue-would-not-go-to-such-lengths-if-vanity-did-not-keep-her-company/)

[François De La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [I do not know whether anyone has ever succeeded in not enjoying praise. And, if he enjoys it, he naturally wants to receive it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-chrysostom/i-do-not-know-whether-anyone-has-ever-succeeded-in-not-enjoying/)

[John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-chrysostom/)

> ['Vanity Fair' is a left-wing rag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ailes/vanity-fair-is-a-left-wing-rag/)

[Roger Ailes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ailes/)

> [“When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but with creatures bristling with prejudice and motivated by pride and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/when-dealing-with-people-remember-you-are-not-dealing-with-creatures/)

[Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/)

## More by François 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/)

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[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

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[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

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[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

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[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 François De La Rochefoucauld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

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> [“Flattery looks like friendship, just like a wolf looks like a dog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-auliq-ice/flattery-looks-like-friendship-just-like-a-wolf-looks-like-a-dog/)

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> [By God, I cannot flatter, I do defy The tongues of soothers! but a braver place In my heart's love hath no man than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/by-god-i-cannot-flatter-i-do-defy-the-tongues-of-soothers-but-a/)

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> [I'm not drunk, I'm just intoxicated by you. I was so enchanted by your beauty that I ran into that wall over there. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paperboi/i-m-not-drunk-i-m-just-intoxicated-by-you-i-was-so-enchanted-by-your/)

[Paperboi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paperboi/)

> [The most skillful flattery is to let a person talk on, and be a listener.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/the-most-skillful-flattery-is-to-let-a-person-talk-on-and-be-a/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [Love of another is merely empty flattery and self-deception for one who cannot accept himself without pretense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-e-modesitt-jr/love-of-another-is-merely-empty-flattery-and-self-deception-for-one/)

[L.E. Modesitt Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-e-modesitt-jr/)

> [I have a car that I call Flattery because it gets me nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/i-have-a-car-that-i-call-flattery-because-it-gets-me-nowhere/)

[Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/)

> [Dont get confused between flattery and kindness these are the new kind of deceptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chops/dont-get-confused-between-flattery-and-kindness-these-are-the-new/)

[Chops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chops/)

> [It is an unquestionable truth, that the body of the people in every country desire sincerely its prosperity. But it is equally unquestionable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-an-unquestionable-truth-that-the-body-of-the-people-in-every/)

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> [Truth and ceremony are two things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/truth-and-ceremony-are-two-things/)

[Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/)

> [The best form of flattery is to master the art of listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/the-best-form-of-flattery-is-to-master-the-art-of-listening/)

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> [He who says he hates all kinds of flattery, and says so in earnest, has undoubtedly not as yet become acquainted with all kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/he-who-says-he-hates-all-kinds-of-flattery-and-says-so-in-earnest-has/)

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> [What signifies protesting so against flattery when a person speaks well of one, it must either be true or false, you know if true,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/what-signifies-protesting-so-against-flattery-when-a-person-speaks/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [But it is hard to know them from friends, they are so obsequious and full of protestations; for a wolf resembles a dog, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/but-it-is-hard-to-know-them-from-friends-they-are-so-obsequious-and/)

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