Done Quote by Lord Chesterfield
“Men have various subjects in which they may excel, or at least would be thought to excel, and though they love to hear justice done to them where they know they excel, yet they are most and best flattered upon those points where they wish to excel and yet are doubtful whether they do or not.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Letters to His Son, 1740
People crave praise most where they are insecure, seeking validation for perceived weaknesses.
In simple terms: People like compliments especially where they doubt themselves.
Key Takeaway
Seek honest feedback, not just flattering praise.
Themes
insecurity
validation
pride
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career advancement
- personal relationships
- education
- leadership
Key Concepts
self‑esteem
social perception
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you seek praise where you feel least competent?
- How does this affect your growth?
A Different Perspective
Flattery can blind one to genuine improvement needs.
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
