--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What honour that, But tedious waste of…" description: "\"What honour that, But tedious waste of time, to sit and hear So many hollow compliments and lies.\" — John Milton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/john-milton-191_compliment_what-honour-that-but-tedious-waste-of-ti_919657.png" --- # What honour that, But tedious waste of time, to sit and… ![“What honour that, But tedious waste of time, to sit and hear So many hollow compliments and lies.” quote by John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/john-milton-191_compliment_what-honour-that-but-tedious-waste-of-ti_919657.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/john-milton-191_compliment_what-honour-that-but-tedious-waste-of-ti_919657.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/john-milton-191_compliment_what-honour-that-but-tedious-waste-of-ti_919657.png) > “What honour that, But tedious waste of time, to sit and hear So many hollow compliments and lies.” [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker laments the emptiness of flattery and lies, seeing them as a waste of time. **In simple terms:** Empty compliments waste time. Key Takeaway Value sincerity over hollow praise. Themes honesty flattery time worth Mood contemplative critical Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal relationships - public speaking - leadership - media consumption Key Concepts integrity communication Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond to insincere praise? - When is flattery useful? A Different Perspective Sincere feedback can be uncomfortable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Honour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honour/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Waste of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste-of-time/) [Wasting time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasting-time/) ## Related quotes > [“Yes,yes, damn tedious waste of an evening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen-pride-and-prejudice/yes-yes-damn-tedious-waste-of-an-evening/) Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice > [Compliments are only lies in court clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sterling/compliments-are-only-lies-in-court-clothes/) [John Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sterling/) > [“Learn to brush off criticism as easily as you brush aside hollow compliments.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/learn-to-brush-off-criticism-as-easily-as-you-brush-aside-hollow/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [But see! theVirgin blessed Hath laid her Babe to rest. Time is our tedious song should here have ending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/but-see-thevirgin-blessed-hath-laid-her-babe-to-rest-time-is-our/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The oracles are dumb, No voice or hideous hum Runs through the arched roof in words deceiving. Apollo from his shrine Can no more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-oracles-are-dumb-no-voice-or-hideous-hum-runs-through-the-arched/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [But all was false and hollow; though his tongue Dropp'd manna, and could make the worse appear The better reason, 4 to perplex and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/but-all-was-false-and-hollow-though-his-tongue-dropp-d-manna-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Life is a biography, not a series of disconnected moments, more or less pleasurable but increasingly tedious and unsatisfying unless one imposes a purposive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dalrymple/life-is-a-biography-not-a-series-of-disconnected-moments-more-or-less/) [Theodore Dalrymple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dalrymple/) > [When you need something tedious done, and don't have time for it, give it to a workaholic. 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