--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After this manner conceive that a…" description: "\"“After this manner conceive that a flatterer differs from a friend: for it often happens to both that they engage in the same employments and the same ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/maximus-tyrius-155598_character_after-this-manner-conceive-that-a-flatte_1444500.jpg" --- # After this manner conceive that a flatterer differs from a… ![“After this manner conceive that a flatterer differs from a friend: for it often happens to both that they engage in the same employments and the same associations; but the one differs from the other in use, in the end, and in the disposition of the soul: for the friend considers that which appears…” quote by Maximus Tyrius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/maximus-tyrius-155598_character_after-this-manner-conceive-that-a-flatte_1444500.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/maximus-tyrius-155598_character_after-this-manner-conceive-that-a-flatte_1444500.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/maximus-tyrius-155598_character_after-this-manner-conceive-that-a-flatte_1444500.jpg) > ““After this manner conceive that a flatterer differs from a friend: for it often happens to both that they engage in the same employments and the same associations; but the one differs from the other in use, in the end, and in the disposition of the soul: for the friend considers that which appears to him to be good to belong also in common to his friend; and, whether this proves to be painful or pleasant, he partakes equally of it with him; but the flatterer, following his own desires, conducts the association to his own advantage. The friend desires an equality of good, the flatterer his own private good. The one aspires after equal honour in virtue, the other after superiority in pleasure. The one in conversation desires an equal freedom of speech, the other servile submission. The one loves truth in association, the other deception; and the one looks to future emolument, but the other to present delight. The one requires to be reminded of his good actions, the other wishes them to be involved in oblivion. The one takes care of the possessions of his friend, as of things common, the other destroys them, as being the property of another. The company of a friend in prosperity is most opportune, and in calamity is most equal; but a flatterer can never be satiated with prosperity, and in adversity he is never to be seen. Friendship is laudable, flattery detestable; for friendship attends to equality of retribution, but this flattery mutilates: for he who pays servile attention to another through indigence, that his wants may be supplied, so far as he does not receive an equal submission in return, will reprobate the inequality. A friend, when his friendship is concealed, is unhappy; on the contrary, a flatterer is miserable when is flattery is not concealed. Friendship when tried is strengthened, flattery is confuted, by time. Friendship requires not to be corroborated by advantage, but flattery cannot subsist without profit; and if men have any communion with the divinities, the pious man is a friend to divinity, but the superstitious is a flatterer of divinity; and the pious man is blessed, but the superstitious is miserable.”” [Maximus Tyrius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-tyrius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Friendship seeks equality and shared good, while flattery pursues selfish gain and deception; true friendship endures, flattery crumbles. **In simple terms:** Friendship values equality; flattery seeks selfish gain. Key Takeaway Foster genuine friendships over self‑serving praise. Themes friendship flattery equality selfishness morality Mood thoughtful ethical Type Character:1 Flattery:1 Freedom of speech:1 Friendship:1 Friend Desires:1 Flatterer Divinity:1 Flattery Confuted:1 Friend Prosperity:1 Desires Equality:1 When to use this quote - personal relationships - teamwork - leadership training Key Concepts ethical behavior social bonds psychology of praise Questions to Reflect On - When is flattery harmless? - How to recognize genuine support? A Different Perspective Flattery can be nuanced, not always negative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Desires Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desires-equality-5177762/) [Flatterer Divinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flatterer-divinity-5177759/) [Flattery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattery/) [Flattery Confuted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattery-confuted-5177760/) [Freedom of speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-speech/) [Friend Desires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend-desires-3128362/) [Friend Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend-prosperity-5177761/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) ## Related quotes > [Even when repressed, inequality grows; only the man who is below the average in economic ability desires equality; those who are conscious of superior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/even-when-repressed-inequality-grows-only-the-man-who-is-below-the/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [In few men is it part of nature to respect a friend's prosperity without begrudging him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/in-few-men-is-it-part-of-nature-to-respect-a-friend-s-prosperity/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I loathe a friend whose gratitude grows old, a friend who takes his friend's prosperity but will not voyage with him in his grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/i-loathe-a-friend-whose-gratitude-grows-old-a-friend-who-takes-his/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [It is a wonderful advantage to a man, in every pursuite or avocation, to secure an adviser in a sensible woman. 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But it is equally unquestionable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-an-unquestionable-truth-that-the-body-of-the-people-in-every/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Dont get confused between flattery and kindness these are the new kind of deceptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chops/dont-get-confused-between-flattery-and-kindness-these-are-the-new/) [Chops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chops/) > [I have a car that I call Flattery because it gets me nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/i-have-a-car-that-i-call-flattery-because-it-gets-me-nowhere/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [Love of another is merely empty flattery and self-deception for one who cannot accept himself without pretense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-e-modesitt-jr/love-of-another-is-merely-empty-flattery-and-self-deception-for-one/) [L.E. Modesitt Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-e-modesitt-jr/) > [The most skillful flattery is to let a person talk on, and be a listener.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/the-most-skillful-flattery-is-to-let-a-person-talk-on-and-be-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [I'm not drunk, I'm just intoxicated by you. I was so enchanted by your beauty that I ran into that wall over there. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paperboi/i-m-not-drunk-i-m-just-intoxicated-by-you-i-was-so-enchanted-by-your/) [Paperboi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paperboi/) > [By God, I cannot flatter, I do defy The tongues of soothers! but a braver place In my heart's love hath no man than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/by-god-i-cannot-flatter-i-do-defy-the-tongues-of-soothers-but-a/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“What a situation!' cried Miss Squeers; '...What is the reason that men fall in love with me, whether I like it or not, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/what-a-situation-cried-miss-squeers-what-is-the-reason-that-men-fall/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Flattery looks like friendship, just like a wolf looks like a dog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-auliq-ice/flattery-looks-like-friendship-just-like-a-wolf-looks-like-a-dog/) [Oscar Auliq-Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-auliq-ice/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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The friend desires an equality of good, the flatterer his own private good. The one aspires after equal honour in virtue, the other after superiority in pleasure. The one in conversation desires an equal freedom of speech, the other servile submission. The one loves truth in association, the other deception; and the one looks to future emolument, but the other to present delight. The one requires to be reminded of his good actions, the other wishes them to be involved in oblivion. The one takes care of the possessions of his friend, as of things common, the other destroys them, as being the property of another. The company of a friend in prosperity is most opportune, and in calamity is most equal; but a flatterer can never be satiated with prosperity, and in adversity he is never to be seen. Friendship is laudable, flattery detestable; for friendship attends to equality of retribution, but this flattery mutilates: for he who pays servile attention to another through indigence, that his wants may be supplied, so far as he does not receive an equal submission in return, will reprobate the inequality. A friend, when his friendship is concealed, is unhappy; on the contrary, a flatterer is miserable when is flattery is not concealed. Friendship when tried is strengthened, flattery is confuted, by time. 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