--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we never flattered ourselves we should…" description: "\"If we never flattered ourselves we should have but scant pleasure.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_flattered_if-we-never-flattered-ourselves-we-shoul_2688752.png" --- # If we never flattered ourselves we should have but scant… ![“If we never flattered ourselves we should have but scant pleasure.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_flattered_if-we-never-flattered-ourselves-we-shoul_2688752.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_flattered_if-we-never-flattered-ourselves-we-shoul_2688752.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_flattered_if-we-never-flattered-ourselves-we-shoul_2688752.png) > “If we never flattered ourselves we should have but scant pleasure.” [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. He suggests that without self‑flattery, pleasure is limited. **In simple terms:** Self‑flattery boosts pleasure Key Takeaway Balance humility with self‑appreciation Themes philosophy human nature pleasure Mood thoughtful philosophical Type maxim reflection When to use this quote - personal reflection - social interaction - psychology Key Concepts self‑esteem modesty Questions to Reflect On - How can one appreciate oneself without vanity? - What limits pleasure without self‑praise? A Different Perspective Excessive flattery can be insincere ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Flattery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattery/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) ## Related quotes > [We sometimes imagine we hate flattery, but we only hate the way we are flattered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-sometimes-imagine-we-hate-flattery-but-we-only-hate-the-way-we-are/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The moment a large investor doesn't believe a government will pay back its debt when it says it will, a crisis of confidence could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ross-sorkin/the-moment-a-large-investor-doesn-t-believe-a-government-will-pay/) [Andrew Ross Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ross-sorkin/) > [Stress appears in your life because you have a rigid view of 'This is the way the world should be,' and the Universe pays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/stress-appears-in-your-life-because-you-have-a-rigid-view-of-this-is/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [Even though loneliness affects so many of us, it has gotten scant research attention compared to related conditions like depression or anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-marantz-henig/even-though-loneliness-affects-so-many-of-us-it-has-gotten-scant/) [Robin Marantz Henig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-marantz-henig/) > [We should have scant notion of the gardens of these New England colonists in the seventeenth century were it not for a cheerful traveller…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-morse-earle/we-should-have-scant-notion-of-the-gardens-of-these-new-england/) [Alice Morse Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-morse-earle/) > [I have a traditional view of the afterlife... heaven, hell and judgments. But the accounts of those places are scant ,and I believe it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/i-have-a-traditional-view-of-the-afterlife-heaven-hell-and-judgments/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [At least 80 percent of American prisoners are grossly over-sentenced. The Supreme Court knows this, but shows scant concern for this human side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/at-least-80-percent-of-american-prisoners-are-grossly-over-sentenced/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [she shall scant show well that now shows best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/she-shall-scant-show-well-that-now-shows-best/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I believe that when an elder dies, a library is burned: vast sums of wisdom and knowledge are lost. Throughout the world libraries are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kapu-uwailani-lindsey/i-believe-that-when-an-elder-dies-a-library-is-burned-vast-sums-of/) [Elizabeth Kapu'uwailani Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kapu-uwailani-lindsey/) > [Pope had been flattered till he thought himself one of the moving powers of the system of life. When he talked of laying down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pope-had-been-flattered-till-he-thought-himself-one-of-the-moving/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Money is the sincerest of all flattery. Women love to be flattered. So do men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/money-is-the-sincerest-of-all-flattery-women-love-to-be-flattered-so/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Some indeed there are who profess to despise all flattery, but even these are nevertheless to be flattered, by being told that they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/some-indeed-there-are-who-profess-to-despise-all-flattery-but-even/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Should the poor be flattered? No; let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp, and crook the pregnant hinges of the knee where thrift may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/should-the-poor-be-flattered-no-let-the-candied-tongue-lick-absurd/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Imitation is the highest form of flattery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/imitation-is-the-highest-form-of-flattery/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [He that loves to be flattered is worthy o' the flatterer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/he-that-loves-to-be-flattered-is-worthy-o-the-flatterer/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## 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 Flattered quotes > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [If anybody sounds like me... everyone knows me, I'm flattered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-dream/if-anybody-sounds-like-me-everyone-knows-me-i-m-flattered/) [The-Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-dream/) > [So I'm one of the few celebrities that got to do a repeat performance on 'The Simpsons,' which I'm very flattered by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-yankovic/so-i-m-one-of-the-few-celebrities-that-got-to-do-a-repeat-performance/) [Al Yankovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-yankovic/) > [It is a very high mind to which gratitude is not a painful sensation. If you wish to please, you will find it wiser…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/it-is-a-very-high-mind-to-which-gratitude-is-not-a-painful-sensation/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [“Flattered as I am that you count me among the beautiful people, Barrons, allow me to point out that I’m still alive. I encountered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/flattered-as-i-am-that-you-count-me-among-the-beautiful-people/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [So I'm an ace?' Will grinned. 'I'm flattered Halt, flattered. I had no idea you regarded me so highly.' Halt gave him a long-suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/so-i-m-an-ace-will-grinned-i-m-flattered-halt-flattered-i-had-no-idea/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [The common people feel themselves oppressed by the grasping of some, and their vanity is flattered by others. Fired with evil passions, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/the-common-people-feel-themselves-oppressed-by-the-grasping-of-some/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [I would be flattered and honored to be considered for any position where I could serve my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/i-would-be-flattered-and-honored-to-be-considered-for-any-position/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [I'm flattered anytime someone has taken enough time to listen to me and make a connection to someone else, honestly. I feel very lucky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-worsham/i-m-flattered-anytime-someone-has-taken-enough-time-to-listen-to-me/) [Charlie Worsham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-worsham/) > [our republican ideas cannot be consistently carried out while women are excluded from any share in the government. ... Any class of human beings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-m-child/our-republican-ideas-cannot-be-consistently-carried-out-while-women/) [Lydia M. Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-m-child/) > [I'm very flattered when people I respect like my work. It's like a dream of a little kid when somebody I idolised likes my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-m-very-flattered-when-people-i-respect-like-my-work-it-s-like-a/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [I always was flattered when people would say I would do whatever it took for the team. I always thought of myself as that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-mankins/i-always-was-flattered-when-people-would-say-i-would-do-whatever-it/) [Logan Mankins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-mankins/) > [The idea of salvation through some one or some thing outside of ourselves came from love of inertia. We want God or his Son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-moore-hubbard/the-idea-of-salvation-through-some-one-or-some-thing-outside-of/) [Alice Moore Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-moore-hubbard/) > [“There's something weird about that guy," she whispers as she slips into the car, bringing an unexpected smile to my face. Ah, Ariel. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-jay/there-s-something-weird-about-that-guy-she-whispers-as-she-slips-into/) [Stacey Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-jay/) Browse all 271 Flattered quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we never flattered ourselves we should have but scant pleasure.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/if-we-never-flattered-ourselves-we-should-have-but-scant-pleasure/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Flattered" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/if-we-never-flattered-ourselves-we-should-have-but-scant-pleasure/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_flattered_if-we-never-flattered-ourselves-we-shoul_2688752.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_flattered_if-we-never-flattered-ourselves-we-shoul_2688752.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_flattered_if-we-never-flattered-ourselves-we-shoul_2688752.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we never flattered ourselves we should have but scant pleasure.” — 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": "If we never flattered ourselves we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/if-we-never-flattered-ourselves-we-should-have-but-scant-pleasure/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/if-we-never-flattered-ourselves-we-should-have-but-scant-pleasure/#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 } } ] } ```