---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Gallantry of mind consists in saying…"
description: "\"Gallantry of mind consists in saying flattering things in an agreeable manner.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_agreeable_gallantry-of-mind-consists-in-saying-fla_2532245.png"
---

#  Gallantry of mind consists in saying flattering things in…

![“Gallantry of mind consists in saying flattering things in an agreeable manner.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_agreeable_gallantry-of-mind-consists-in-saying-fla_2532245.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_agreeable_gallantry-of-mind-consists-in-saying-fla_2532245.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_agreeable_gallantry-of-mind-consists-in-saying-fla_2532245.png)

> “Gallantry of mind consists in saying flattering things in an agreeable manner.”

[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.

True elegance lies in praising others sincerely and kindly.

**In simple terms:** Graceful speech is sincere and pleasant.

Key Takeaway

Speak kindly with genuine intent.

Themes

etiquette flattery grace

Mood

refined thoughtful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- diplomacy
- public speaking
- networking
- leadership

Key Concepts

rhetoric social psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- When is praise genuine?
- How do you avoid empty compliments?

A Different Perspective

Insincere flattery can be manipulative.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Flattery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattery/) [Gallantry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gallantry/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/)

## Related quotes

> [The gallantry of the mind consists in agreeable flattery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-gallantry-of-the-mind-consists-in-agreeable-flattery/)

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

> [We judge so superficially of things, that common words and actions spoke and done in an agreeable manner, with some knowledge of what passes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-judge-so-superficially-of-things-that-common-words-and-actions/)

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> [Hint at the existence of wickedness in a light, easy, and agreeable manner, so that nobody's fine feelings may be offended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/hint-at-the-existence-of-wickedness-in-a-light-easy-and-agreeable/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

> [“There is hardly any personal defect", replied Anne, "which an agreeable manner might not gradually reconcile one to".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/there-is-hardly-any-personal-defect-replied-anne-which-an-agreeable/)

[Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/)

> [An agreeable manner may set off handsome features, but can never alter plain ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/an-agreeable-manner-may-set-off-handsome-features-but-can-never-alter/)

[Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/)

> [There is hardly any personal defect... which an agreeable manner might not gradually reconcile one to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/there-is-hardly-any-personal-defect-which-an-agreeable-manner-might/)

[Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/)

> [Few things are more agreeable than the spectacle of a man who loses his temper; we should be grateful to such people for providing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-nicolson/few-things-are-more-agreeable-than-the-spectacle-of-a-man-who-loses/)

[Harold Nicolson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-nicolson/)

> [In the zazen posture, your mind and body have, great power to accept things as they are, whether agreeable or disagreeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/in-the-zazen-posture-your-mind-and-body-have-great-power-to-accept/)

[Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/)

> [Love is the smallest part of gallantry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/love-is-the-smallest-part-of-gallantry/)

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

> [One thing which makes us find so few people who appear reasonable and agreeable in conversation is, that there is scarcely any one who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/one-thing-which-makes-us-find-so-few-people-who-appear-reasonable-and/)

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

> [Love, all agreeable as it is, charms more by the fashion in which it displays itself, than by its own true merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/love-all-agreeable-as-it-is-charms-more-by-the-fashion-in-which-it/)

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

> [Hope, deceiving as it is, serves at least to lead us to the end of our lives by an agreeable route.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/hope-deceiving-as-it-is-serves-at-least-to-lead-us-to-the-end-of-our/)

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

> [Enlightenment is like witnessing the brilliant sun for the first time in the morning. It is like seeing the beautiful flowers that grow in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/enlightenment-is-like-witnessing-the-brilliant-sun-for-the-first-time/)

[Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/)

> [The gallantry and aggressive fighting spirit of the Russian soldiers command the American army's admiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-marshall/the-gallantry-and-aggressive-fighting-spirit-of-the-russian-soldiers/)

[George C. Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-marshall/)

> [ René of Anjou \[(1409-80)\] painted a picture of his mistress's corpse as he found it eaten by worms on having it \[her tomb\] openedon… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/ren-of-anjou-1409-80-painted-a-picture-of-his-mistress-s-corpse-as-he/)

[Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/)

## 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 Agreeable quotes

> [It is with rivers as it is with people: the greatest are not always the most agreeable nor the best to live with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/it-is-with-rivers-as-it-is-with-people-the-greatest-are-not-always/)

[Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/)

> [I roll out of my couch every morning with the more agreeable expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/i-roll-out-of-my-couch-every-morning-with-the-more-agreeable/)

[H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/)

> [Remember that when you meet your antagonist, to do everything in a mild agreeable manner. Let your courage be keen, but, at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/remember-that-when-you-meet-your-antagonist-to-do-everything-in-a/)

[Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/)

> [“Expect a most agreeable letter, for not being overburdened with subject (having nothing at all to say), there shall be no check to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/expect-a-most-agreeable-letter-for-not-being-overburdened-with/)

[Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/)

> [“Above all one should accept everything, in general and individually, in oneself or in others, agreeable or disagreeable, with a prompt and confident spirit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-the-great/above-all-one-should-accept-everything-in-general-and-individually-in/)

Albert the Great

> [“We laughed at the same things, and we liked the same things. What more is needed for agreeable society?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/we-laughed-at-the-same-things-and-we-liked-the-same-things-what-more/)

[George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/)

> [I'm small, but I'm neither compliant nor agreeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/i-m-small-but-i-m-neither-compliant-nor-agreeable/)

[Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/)

> [Surrounded by all the members of my dear family, enjoying the affection of numerous friends, who have never abandoned me, and possessing a sufficient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-james-audubon/surrounded-by-all-the-members-of-my-dear-family-enjoying-the/)

[John James Audubon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-james-audubon/)

> [Choose the GOOD WILL that is most useful, and habit will make it the most agreeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/choose-the-good-will-that-is-most-useful-and-habit-will-make-it-the/)

[Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/)

> [An agreeable figure and winning manner, which inspire affection without love, are always new. Beauty loses its relish, the graces never, after the longest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-home-lord-kames/an-agreeable-figure-and-winning-manner-which-inspire-affection/)

[Henry Home, Lord Kames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-home-lord-kames/)

> [I always follow the rules. No fake co-productions. I know how to make content agreeable and acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-zheng-wu/i-always-follow-the-rules-no-fake-co-productions-i-know-how-to-make/)

[Bruno Zheng Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-zheng-wu/)

> [I like to make people happy, and with fairy tales, I can say anything I want to, but in an agreeable way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-ocelot/i-like-to-make-people-happy-and-with-fairy-tales-i-can-say-anything-i/)

[Michel Ocelot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-ocelot/)

> [Dandies, when first-rate, are generally very agreeable men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/dandies-when-first-rate-are-generally-very-agreeable-men/)

[Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/)

> [This goin' ware glory waits ye haint one agreeable feetur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/this-goin-ware-glory-waits-ye-haint-one-agreeable-feetur/)

[James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/)

> [One thing which makes us find so few people who appear reasonable and agreeable in conversation is, that there is scarcely any one who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/one-thing-which-makes-us-find-so-few-people-who-appear-reasonable-and/)

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Browse all 151 Agreeable quotes

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