--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Compliment others on the virtues they…" description: "\"Compliment others on the virtues they have; and they're not half as pleased as being complimented for the ones they don't have.\" — Malcolm Forbes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/944/malcolm-forbes-1510_compliment_compliment-others-on-the-virtues-they-ha_124197.jpg" --- # Compliment others on the virtues they have; and they're… ![“Compliment others on the virtues they have; and they're not half as pleased as being complimented for the ones they don't have.” quote by Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/944/malcolm-forbes-1510_compliment_compliment-others-on-the-virtues-they-ha_124197.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/944/malcolm-forbes-1510_compliment_compliment-others-on-the-virtues-they-ha_124197.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/944/malcolm-forbes-1510_compliment_compliment-others-on-the-virtues-they-ha_124197.jpg) > “Compliment others on the virtues they have; and they're not half as pleased as being complimented for the ones they don't have.” [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Praise people for their existing virtues; they value authentic recognition more than compliments about imagined traits. **In simple terms:** Compliment real virtues, not imagined ones. Key Takeaway Authentic praise feels more rewarding. Themes praise authenticity self‑esteem Mood warm considerate Type advice psychological When to use this quote - performance reviews - parenting - team building Key Concepts psychology of validation social dynamics Practical Applications - Observe and name specific strengths - Avoid generic or inflated compliments Questions to Reflect On - Why do people prefer genuine feedback? - How can we balance encouragement with realism? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [I have always been complimented that my voice matches all actors like Shahid Kapoor, Ajay Devgn, Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javed-ali/i-have-always-been-complimented-that-my-voice-matches-all-actors-like/) [Javed Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javed-ali/) > [People have always complimented me for being cheerful and happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmin-bhasin/people-have-always-complimented-me-for-being-cheerful-and-happy/) [Jasmin Bhasin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmin-bhasin/) > [You did what your heart told you to do,' Brain complimented. 'It is what leaders, not followers, do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tonya-hurley/you-did-what-your-heart-told-you-to-do-brain-complimented-it-is-what/) [Tonya Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tonya-hurley/) > [Allu Arjun was the first person who complimented me after watching the first copy of 'Kotha Janta.' I felt very happy and proud then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-cassandra/allu-arjun-was-the-first-person-who-complimented-me-after-watching/) [Regina Cassandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-cassandra/) > [You know, somebody actually complimented me on my driving today. They left a little note on the windscreen, it said 'Parking Fine.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/you-know-somebody-actually-complimented-me-on-my-driving-today-they/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) > [“So how did you get this job, anyway?' I asked. 'My science teacher.' 'Why'd he pick you?' 'For my brains and good looks, obviously.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-shulman/so-how-did-you-get-this-job-anyway-i-asked-my-science-teacher-why-d/) [Polly Shulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-shulman/) > [“He always got this glint in his eyes when he complimented my looks, like he was seeing so much more than just my actual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-always-got-this-glint-in-his-eyes-when-he-complimented-my-looks/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Yes, I am complimented on my work in Kids in the Hall once or twice a week. Its a nice feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lennon/yes-i-am-complimented-on-my-work-in-kids-in-the-hall-once-or-twice-a/) [Thomas Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lennon/) > [It's better that you're criticized than complimented as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/it-s-better-that-you-re-criticized-than-complimented-as-a-person/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [Nothing is so silly as the expression of a man who is being complimented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/nothing-is-so-silly-as-the-expression-of-a-man-who-is-being/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [“I don't know if anyone's ever told you this", he begins. He doesn't blush, and his eyes don't dart away. Instead I find myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/i-don-t-know-if-anyone-s-ever-told-you-this-he-begins-he-doesn-t/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [Montana and I had a chemistry that was unbelievable. When I first came into the league he told me I added five years to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/montana-and-i-had-a-chemistry-that-was-unbelievable-when-i-first-came/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-been-complimented-many-times-and-they-always-embarrass-me-i/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [It undoubtedly feels nice when you are being appreciated and you get complimented by girls. Who doesn't like that? Having said that, I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virat-kohli/it-undoubtedly-feels-nice-when-you-are-being-appreciated-and-you-get/) [Virat Kohli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virat-kohli/) > [My parents always supported me and complimented me on other things, not just my looks. They told me I was capable, that I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paloma-elsesser/my-parents-always-supported-me-and-complimented-me-on-other-things/) [Paloma Elsesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paloma-elsesser/) ## More by Malcolm Forbes > [Once in a while there's wisdom in recognizing that the Boss is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/once-in-a-while-there-s-wisdom-in-recognizing-that-the-boss-is/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [ I don't think anybody can be a success who doesn't like what they do. \[But it's\] no job if it has no challenge; there's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/i-don-t-think-anybody-can-be-a-success-who-doesn-t-like-what-they-do/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Why, just a couple of economic seasons ago, was idle cash considered an indication of bad management or lazy management? Because it meant that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/why-just-a-couple-of-economic-seasons-ago-was-idle-cash-considered-an/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Real writers-that is, capital W Writers-rarely make much money. Their biggest reward is the occasional reader's response… Commentators-in-print voicing big fat opinions-you might call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/real-writers-that-is-capital-w-writers-rarely-make-much-money-their/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [When things are bad, we take comfort in the thought that they could always be worse. And when they are, we find hope in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/when-things-are-bad-we-take-comfort-in-the-thought-that-they-could/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Some people as a result of adversity are sadder, wiser, kinder, more human. Most of us are better, though, when things go better. Knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/some-people-as-a-result-of-adversity-are-sadder-wiser-kinder-more/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [The best vision is insight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/the-best-vision-is-insight/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [When you don't understand, it's sometimes easier to look like you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/when-you-don-t-understand-it-s-sometimes-easier-to-look-like-you-do/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [It's so much easier to suggest solutions when you don't know too much about the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/it-s-so-much-easier-to-suggest-solutions-when-you-don-t-know-too-much/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Security isn't securities. It's knowing that someone cares whether you are or cease to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/security-isn-t-securities-it-s-knowing-that-someone-cares-whether-you/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [It is unfortunate we can't buy many business executives for what they are worth and sell them for what they think they are worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/it-is-unfortunate-we-can-t-buy-many-business-executives-for-what-they/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [It is all one to me if a man comes from Sing Sing Prison or Harvard. We hire a man, not his history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/it-is-all-one-to-me-if-a-man-comes-from-sing-sing-prison-or-harvard/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [. . . the most difficult thing asked by our young is not our earnings but our ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/the-most-difficult-thing-asked-by-our-young-is-not-our-earnings-but/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Any marriage that survives a big wedding can probably survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/any-marriage-that-survives-a-big-wedding-can-probably-survive/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) [Explore all 232 Malcolm Forbes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) ## More Compliment quotes > [Hot legs, bring your Mother, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/hot-legs-bring-your-mother-too/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) > [I see the joy in life and I see the joy in simple things. I over-compliment. I over-praise. I over-express my feelings toward people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-lansing/i-see-the-joy-in-life-and-i-see-the-joy-in-simple-things-i-over/) [Sherry Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-lansing/) > [The words I LOVE YOU, sometimes fooled us... But when someone says I TRUST YOU.. That's a better compliment, a true care with faith...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reolope/the-words-i-love-you-sometimes-fooled-us-but-when-someone-says-i/) [Janet Reolope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reolope/) > [Sometimes after a compliment about my characterization skills, I'm asked if I model my characters on real people. Emphatically, no. And sort of, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/sometimes-after-a-compliment-about-my-characterization-skills-i-m/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [I've got the public. I don't care about the critics. I did at one time. I don't any more. I did when I needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/i-ve-got-the-public-i-don-t-care-about-the-critics-i-did-at-one-time/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [When one is frank, one's very presence is a compliment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-moore/when-one-is-frank-one-s-very-presence-is-a-compliment/) [Marianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-moore/) > [Well, I think every now and again, some people deserve to get their butts chewed. Every now and again some people deserve a pat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/well-i-think-every-now-and-again-some-people-deserve-to-get-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are searching for the same thing,” Stripey said. “How do you know?” Janco asked. “I read his mind.” The Sitian pointed to Ari.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/we-are-searching-for-the-same-thing-stripey-said-how-do-you-know/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [“Even if you are a pompous ass with no respect for authority, you're worth fifty men, and I mean to see you in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcclellan/even-if-you-are-a-pompous-ass-with-no-respect-for-authority-you-re/) [Brian McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcclellan/) > [You're better off owning 30 percent and having two amazing partners who compliment you and are equally as driven as you are than having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-dyrdek/you-re-better-off-owning-30-percent-and-having-two-amazing-partners/) [Rob Dyrdek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-dyrdek/) > [The three of us just try put our heads down and stay creative. The awards truly are just cake. It's one of those things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-scott/the-three-of-us-just-try-put-our-heads-down-and-stay-creative-the/) [Hillary Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-scott/) > [Your eyes are like two jewels in the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/your-eyes-are-like-two-jewels-in-the-sky/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I've made this conscious decision to tell people on the street when I think they're wearing something great. If more people did that, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-jensen/i-ve-made-this-conscious-decision-to-tell-people-on-the-street-when-i/) [Ashley Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-jensen/) > [“Why did you decide to be an architect?" "I didn't know it then. But it's because I've never believed in God." 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