--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Flattery is like cologne water, to be…" description: "\"Flattery is like cologne water, to be smelt, not swallowed.\" — Josh Billings" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/josh-billings-777_cologne_flattery-is-like-cologne-water-to-be-sme_2600935.png" --- # Flattery is like cologne water, to be smelt, not swallowed. ![“Flattery is like cologne water, to be smelt, not swallowed.” quote by Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/josh-billings-777_cologne_flattery-is-like-cologne-water-to-be-sme_2600935.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/josh-billings-777_cologne_flattery-is-like-cologne-water-to-be-sme_2600935.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/josh-billings-777_cologne_flattery-is-like-cologne-water-to-be-sme_2600935.png) > “Flattery is like cologne water, to be smelt, not swallowed.” [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) ## 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 superficial, meant to be noticed, not consumed. **In simple terms:** Flattery is for smelling, not swallowing. Key Takeaway Beware insincere compliments. Themes social interaction ego authenticity Mood cautious wry Type social personal When to use this quote - networking - leadership - personal relationships Key Concepts psychology communication Questions to Reflect On - When have you encountered empty flattery? - How do you respond to genuine praise? A Different Perspective May be misread as endorsement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Flattery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattery/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [Flattery is like cologne water, to be smelt of, not swallowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/flattery-is-like-cologne-water-to-be-smelt-of-not-swallowed/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [For some reason, when I was in junior high school, my friends and I had, like, a cologne-stealing ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/for-some-reason-when-i-was-in-junior-high-school-my-friends-and-i-had/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [If it smells like fish its a dish. If it smells like cologne leave it alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dice-clay/if-it-smells-like-fish-its-a-dish-if-it-smells-like-cologne-leave-it/) [Andrew Dice Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dice-clay/) > [“If liquid courage smelled like cologne and gushed out of my penis, I’d make a better fire fighter than I’m not right now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/if-liquid-courage-smelled-like-cologne-and-gushed-out-of-my-penis-i-d/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Are you cold?” he asks, turning toward me to run the backs of his fingers up and down my upper arm, as if testing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/are-you-cold-he-asks-turning-toward-me-to-run-the-backs-of-his/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [A little flattery, like a warm bath and soft towel, will let you get along with yourself, lie down with yourself, and sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-regier/a-little-flattery-like-a-warm-bath-and-soft-towel-will-let-you-get/) [Willis Regier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-regier/) > [Because nothing says flattery like a gun to the head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/because-nothing-says-flattery-like-a-gun-to-the-head/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [Flattery is like a chewing gum. Chew it but never swallow it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/flattery-is-like-a-chewing-gum-chew-it-but-never-swallow-it/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Flattery, then, is like the other strategies discussed above in that it should be ineffective; unlike the others, however, it usually works. As Milan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gilovich/flattery-then-is-like-the-other-strategies-discussed-above-in-that-it/) [Thomas Gilovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gilovich/) > [Flattery is like wine, which exhilarates a man for a moment, but usually ends by going to his head and making him act foolishly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-rowland/flattery-is-like-wine-which-exhilarates-a-man-for-a-moment-but/) [Helen Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-rowland/) > [Flattery is like a painted armor; only for show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/flattery-is-like-a-painted-armor-only-for-show/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Flattery is like chewing gum. Enjoy it but don't swallow it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-ketcham/flattery-is-like-chewing-gum-enjoy-it-but-don-t-swallow-it/) [Hank Ketcham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-ketcham/) > [Flattery is like friendship in show, but not in fruit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/flattery-is-like-friendship-in-show-but-not-in-fruit/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“Out here, without the clouds of cigar smoke, there was nothing to compete with the scent of the rich wood panelling, the preparation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anouska-knight/out-here-without-the-clouds-of-cigar-smoke-there-was-nothing-to/) [Anouska Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anouska-knight/) > [All Germany was in turmoil. Revolutionaries seized power in the cities of Munich, Hanover and Cologne. One regional German government after another was toppled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cross-giblin/all-germany-was-in-turmoil-revolutionaries-seized-power-in-the-cities/) James Cross Giblin ## More by Josh Billings > [It ain't because lovers are so sensitive that they quarrel so often; it is because there is so much fun n the making up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/it-ain-t-because-lovers-are-so-sensitive-that-they-quarrel-so-often/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Man was created a little lower than the angels and has been getting a little lower ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/man-was-created-a-little-lower-than-the-angels-and-has-been-getting-a/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [There is only one good substitute for the endearments of a sister, and that is the endearments of some other fellow's sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/there-is-only-one-good-substitute-for-the-endearments-of-a-sister-and/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds a man down or polishes him up depends on the stuff he's made of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/life-is-a-grindstone-and-whether-it-grinds-a-man-down-or-polishes-him/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Its harly my dog A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/its-harly-my-dog-a-dog-is-the-only-thing-on-earth-that-loves-you-more/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Perseverance is king.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/perseverance-is-king/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Unless we put heart and soul into our labor we but brutify our actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/unless-we-put-heart-and-soul-into-our-labor-we-but-brutify-our-actions/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [A secret ceases to be a secret if it is once confided - it is like a dollar bill, once broken, it is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/a-secret-ceases-to-be-a-secret-if-it-is-once-confided-it-is-like-a/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [If a man is right, he can't be too radical; if he is wrong, he can't be too conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/if-a-man-is-right-he-can-t-be-too-radical-if-he-is-wrong-he-can-t-be/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [As a general rule, if you want to get at the truth - hear both sides and believe neither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/as-a-general-rule-if-you-want-to-get-at-the-truth-hear-both-sides-and/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Economy is a savings-bank, into which men drop pennies, and get dollars in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/economy-is-a-savings-bank-into-which-men-drop-pennies-and-get-dollars/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Self-made men are most always apt to be a little too proud of the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/self-made-men-are-most-always-apt-to-be-a-little-too-proud-of-the-job/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Poverty is one of them kind of misfortunes that we all of us dread but none of us pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/poverty-is-one-of-them-kind-of-misfortunes-that-we-all-of-us-dread/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [If the world despises a hypocrite, what must they think of him in heaven?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/if-the-world-despises-a-hypocrite-what-must-they-think-of-him-in/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [The man who gets bit twice by the same dog is better adapted for that kind of business than any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/the-man-who-gets-bit-twice-by-the-same-dog-is-better-adapted-for-that/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) [Explore all 372 Josh Billings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) ## More Cologne quotes > [All Germany was in turmoil. Revolutionaries seized power in the cities of Munich, Hanover and Cologne. One regional German government after another was toppled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cross-giblin/all-germany-was-in-turmoil-revolutionaries-seized-power-in-the-cities/) James Cross Giblin > [“Out here, without the clouds of cigar smoke, there was nothing to compete with the scent of the rich wood panelling, the preparation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anouska-knight/out-here-without-the-clouds-of-cigar-smoke-there-was-nothing-to/) [Anouska Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anouska-knight/) > [For Father's Day, my kids always give me a bottle of cologne called English Leather. It's appropriate! To them I always smell like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/for-father-s-day-my-kids-always-give-me-a-bottle-of-cologne-called/) [Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/) > [Yeah, I'll pay your cab fare home, you can even use my best cologne, just don't be here in the morning when I wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/yeah-i-ll-pay-your-cab-fare-home-you-can-even-use-my-best-cologne/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) > [I'm tryin' to build myself bigger than just Ace Hood, I'm tryin' to build myself as a bigger brand - open up clothing lines,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-hood/i-m-tryin-to-build-myself-bigger-than-just-ace-hood-i-m-tryin-to/) [Ace Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-hood/) > [It's Fendi. French, Fendi, both start with an F... I fell in love with it. Smells like grown-man cologne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/french-montana/it-s-fendi-french-fendi-both-start-with-an-f-i-fell-in-love-with-it/) [French Montana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/french-montana/) > [When I first began visiting West Germany in the early 1980s, I was startled by the contrast between Birmingham, where I went to school,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-harding/when-i-first-began-visiting-west-germany-in-the-early-1980s-i-was/) [Luke Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-harding/) > [Men still wear cologne, but I wish they wouldn't. No matter what you may believe, all men's fragrances smell like the air freshener in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-marx/men-still-wear-cologne-but-i-wish-they-wouldn-t-no-matter-what-you/) [Patricia Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-marx/) > [Be sure to wear a good cologne, a nice aftershave lotion, and a strong underarm deodorant. And it might be a good idea to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/be-sure-to-wear-a-good-cologne-a-nice-aftershave-lotion-and-a-strong/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/) > [My son gave me a nice bottle of cologne - Eau de Owe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/my-son-gave-me-a-nice-bottle-of-cologne-eau-de-owe/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [In Koln, a town of monks and bones, And pavement fang'd with murderous stones, And rags and hags, and hideous wenches, I counted two-and-seventy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/in-koln-a-town-of-monks-and-bones-and-pavement-fang-d-with-murderous/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [People aren't stupid. They saw what was happening at the Cologne central station. A lawless space was created in the middle of a city…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-schwarzer/people-aren-t-stupid-they-saw-what-was-happening-at-the-cologne/) [Alice Schwarzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-schwarzer/) > [Cologne, you know, you gotta make sure you smell good all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pascal-siakam/cologne-you-know-you-gotta-make-sure-you-smell-good-all-the-time/) [Pascal Siakam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pascal-siakam/) > [When I was a kid I was very particular. I was actually beyond particular. I would iron my money and spray it with Polo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcnairy/when-i-was-a-kid-i-was-very-particular-i-was-actually-beyond/) [Mark McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcnairy/) > [The cologne you pick should make you feel good when you go out with it. I think confidence comes across more than any other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/the-cologne-you-pick-should-make-you-feel-good-when-you-go-out-with/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) Browse all 89 Cologne quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Flattery is like cologne water, to be smelt, not swallowed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Josh Billings" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/flattery-is-like-cologne-water-to-be-smelt-not-swallowed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cologne" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/flattery-is-like-cologne-water-to-be-smelt-not-swallowed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/josh-billings-777_cologne_flattery-is-like-cologne-water-to-be-sme_2600935.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/josh-billings-777_cologne_flattery-is-like-cologne-water-to-be-sme_2600935.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/josh-billings-777_cologne_flattery-is-like-cologne-water-to-be-sme_2600935.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Flattery is like cologne water, to be smelt, not swallowed.” — Josh Billings", "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": "Josh Billings", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Flattery is like cologne water, to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/flattery-is-like-cologne-water-to-be-smelt-not-swallowed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/flattery-is-like-cologne-water-to-be-smelt-not-swallowed/#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 } } ] } ```