--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There can hardly, I believe, be imagined…" description: "\"There can hardly, I believe, be imagined a more desirable pleasure than that of praise unmixed with any possibility of flattery.\" — Richard Steele" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a1/richard-steele-8781_believe_there-can-hardly-i-believe-be-imagined-a_2482344.png" --- # There can hardly, I believe, be imagined a more desirable… ![“There can hardly, I believe, be imagined a more desirable pleasure than that of praise unmixed with any possibility of flattery.” quote by Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a1/richard-steele-8781_believe_there-can-hardly-i-believe-be-imagined-a_2482344.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a1/richard-steele-8781_believe_there-can-hardly-i-believe-be-imagined-a_2482344.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a1/richard-steele-8781_believe_there-can-hardly-i-believe-be-imagined-a_2482344.png) > “There can hardly, I believe, be imagined a more desirable pleasure than that of praise unmixed with any possibility of flattery.” [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pure praise without flattery is rare and highly valued, emphasizing sincerity over manipulation. **In simple terms:** Genuine praise is rare and precious. Key Takeaway Seek and give sincere appreciation. Themes honesty compliment integrity social interaction Mood thoughtful encouraging Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership feedback - customer service - education - public speaking Key Concepts authenticity ego motivation psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can we tell genuine praise from manipulation? - What impact does sincere praise have on morale? A Different Perspective Flattery can be hard to distinguish from sincere praise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Desirable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desirable/) [Desirable Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desirable-pleasure-876992/) [Flattery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattery/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Imagined Desirable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagined-desirable-876994/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Pleasure Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure-praise-876993/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) [Praise Unmixed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise-unmixed-876995/) ## Related quotes > [Philebus was saying that enjoyment and pleasure and delight, and the class of feelings akin to them, are a good to every living being,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/philebus-was-saying-that-enjoyment-and-pleasure-and-delight-and-the/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Of two pleasures, if there be one which all or almost all who have experience of both give a decided preference, irrespective of any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/of-two-pleasures-if-there-be-one-which-all-or-almost-all-who-have/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [All desirable things... are desirable either for the pleasure inherent in themselves, or as a means to the promotion of pleasure and the prevention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/all-desirable-things-are-desirable-either-for-the-pleasure-inherent/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [The praise of an ignorant man is only good-will, and you should receive his kindness as he is a good neighbor in society, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/the-praise-of-an-ignorant-man-is-only-good-will-and-you-should/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [Whenever you commend, add your reasons for doing so; it is this which distinguishes the approbation of a man of sense from the flattery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/whenever-you-commend-add-your-reasons-for-doing-so-it-is-this-which/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [The world is grown so full of dissimulation and compliment, that men's words are hardly any signification of their thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/the-world-is-grown-so-full-of-dissimulation-and-compliment-that-men-s/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [Common sense is both more rare and more desirable in leaders than mere intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/common-sense-is-both-more-rare-and-more-desirable-in-leaders-than/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I don't just live to work because I don't think that's healthy or desirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-dickinson/i-don-t-just-live-to-work-because-i-don-t-think-that-s-healthy-or/) [Harris Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-dickinson/) > [What seems so necessary today may not even be desirable tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/what-seems-so-necessary-today-may-not-even-be-desirable-tomorrow/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“The great thing about facts is that you don't have to ponder whether they're desirable or not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesb/the-great-thing-about-facts-is-that-you-don-t-have-to-ponder-whether/) [Jo Nesbø](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesb/) > [The goal in raising one's child is to enable him, first, to discover who he wants to be, and then to become a person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-bettelheim/the-goal-in-raising-one-s-child-is-to-enable-him-first-to-discover/) [Bruno Bettelheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-bettelheim/) > [Things to be done offer themselves, I suppose, because they are in themselves desirable; not because it is desirable to have something to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/things-to-be-done-offer-themselves-i-suppose-because-they-are-in/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [It was both necessary and desirable for us to be so strong at sea that no Sea Power could attack us without risk, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-von-bulow/it-was-both-necessary-and-desirable-for-us-to-be-so-strong-at-sea/) [Bernhard von Bulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-von-bulow/) > [I'm happy to be considered desirable. I love it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/i-m-happy-to-be-considered-desirable-i-love-it/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [At times of recession, running a budget deficit is highly desirable. Once the economy begins to recover, you have to balance the budget. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/at-times-of-recession-running-a-budget-deficit-is-highly-desirable/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) ## More by Richard Steele > [“And I pray mark how he begins: he sets not up trophies to himself, but triumphs in his God-- "I will love thee, O…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/and-i-pray-mark-how-he-begins-he-sets-not-up-trophies-to-himself-but/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [Pride destroys all symmetry and grace, and affectation is a more terrible enemy to fine faces than the small-pox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/pride-destroys-all-symmetry-and-grace-and-affectation-is-a-more/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [People spend their lives in the service of their passions instead of employing their passions in the service of their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/people-spend-their-lives-in-the-service-of-their-passions-instead-of/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [A fool is in himself the object of pity, until he is flattered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/a-fool-is-in-himself-the-object-of-pity-until-he-is-flattered/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [The world is grown so full of dissimulation and compliment, that men's words are hardly any signification of their thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/the-world-is-grown-so-full-of-dissimulation-and-compliment-that-men-s/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [It is a certain sign of an ill heart to be inclined to defamation. They who are harmless and innocent can have no gratification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/it-is-a-certain-sign-of-an-ill-heart-to-be-inclined-to-defamation/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [I was going home two hours ago, but was met by Mr. Griffith, who has kept me ever since. . . . I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/i-was-going-home-two-hours-ago-but-was-met-by-mr-griffith-who-has/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [I love to consider an Infidel, whether distinguished by the title of deist, atheist, or free-thinker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/i-love-to-consider-an-infidel-whether-distinguished-by-the-title-of/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [Many take pleasure in spreading abroad the weakness of an exalted character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/many-take-pleasure-in-spreading-abroad-the-weakness-of-an-exalted/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [It is an impertinent and unreasonable fault in conversation for one man to take up all the discourse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/it-is-an-impertinent-and-unreasonable-fault-in-conversation-for-one/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [It is a secret known but to few, yet of no small use in the conduct of life, that when you fall into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/it-is-a-secret-known-but-to-few-yet-of-no-small-use-in-the-conduct-of/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [Simplicity of all things is the hardest to be copy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/simplicity-of-all-things-is-the-hardest-to-be-copy/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [Whether a pretty woman grants or withholds her favors, she always likes to be asked for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/whether-a-pretty-woman-grants-or-withholds-her-favors-she-always/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [Since our persons are not of our own making, when they are such as appear defective or uncomely, it is, methinks, an honest and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/since-our-persons-are-not-of-our-own-making-when-they-are-such-as/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [Vanity makes people ridiculous, pride odious, and ambition terrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/vanity-makes-people-ridiculous-pride-odious-and-ambition-terrible/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) [Explore all 78 Richard Steele quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There can hardly, I believe, be imagined a more desirable pleasure than that of praise unmixed with any possibility of flattery.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Steele" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/there-can-hardly-i-believe-be-imagined-a-more-desirable-pleasure-than/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/there-can-hardly-i-believe-be-imagined-a-more-desirable-pleasure-than/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a1/richard-steele-8781_believe_there-can-hardly-i-believe-be-imagined-a_2482344.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a1/richard-steele-8781_believe_there-can-hardly-i-believe-be-imagined-a_2482344.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a1/richard-steele-8781_believe_there-can-hardly-i-believe-be-imagined-a_2482344.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There can hardly, I believe, be imagined a more desirable pleasure than that of praise unmixed with any…” — Richard Steele", "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": "Richard Steele", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There can hardly, I believe, be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/there-can-hardly-i-believe-be-imagined-a-more-desirable-pleasure-than/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/there-can-hardly-i-believe-be-imagined-a-more-desirable-pleasure-than/#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 } } ] } ```