--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pope had been flattered till he thought…" description: "\"Pope had been flattered till he thought himself one of the moving powers of the system of life. When he talked of laying down his pen, those who sat ro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e3/samuel-johnson-50_flattered_pope-had-been-flattered-till-he-thought_868043.png" --- # Pope had been flattered till he thought himself one of the… ![“Pope had been flattered till he thought himself one of the moving powers of the system of life. When he talked of laying down his pen, those who sat round him intreated and implored; and self-love did not suffer him to suspect that they went away and laughed.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e3/samuel-johnson-50_flattered_pope-had-been-flattered-till-he-thought_868043.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e3/samuel-johnson-50_flattered_pope-had-been-flattered-till-he-thought_868043.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e3/samuel-johnson-50_flattered_pope-had-been-flattered-till-he-thought_868043.png) > “Pope had been flattered till he thought himself one of the moving powers of the system of life. When he talked of laying down his pen, those who sat round him intreated and implored; and self-love did not suffer him to suspect that they went away and laughed.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Johnson satirical observation that self‑importance blinds one to the true nature of influence and dependence. **In simple terms:** Self‑importance blinds perception of influence. Key Takeaway Check humility before assuming power. Themes hubris perception influence Mood irical reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - political leadership - personal relationships - career advancement Key Concepts Satire ego social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑importance affect your decisions? - Do you recognize the limits of your influence? A Different Perspective Assuming power may ignore underlying dependencies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Flattered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattered/) [Flattered Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattered-till-921707/) [Flattery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattery/) [Implored Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/implored-self-921708/) [Laughed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughed/) [Laying down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laying-down/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Pens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pens/) [Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pope/) [Pope Flattered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pope-flattered-921706/) [Rounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rounds/) [Sat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sat/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-love/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suspects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspects/) ## Related quotes > [No wonder, Sir, that he is vain; a man who is perpetually flattered in every mode that can be conceived. So many bellows have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/no-wonder-sir-that-he-is-vain-a-man-who-is-perpetually-flattered-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [To be flattered is grateful, even when we know that our praises are not believed by those who pronounce them; for they prove, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/to-be-flattered-is-grateful-even-when-we-know-that-our-praises-are/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Flattery pleases very generally. In the first place, the flatterer may think what he says to be true; but, in the second place, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/flattery-pleases-very-generally-in-the-first-place-the-flatterer-may/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [We sometimes imagine we hate flattery, but we only hate the way we are flattered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-sometimes-imagine-we-hate-flattery-but-we-only-hate-the-way-we-are/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [My cut is blunt and futuristic, and Nicki Minaj started wearing that bob on her head after she came to my show, so at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-mama/my-cut-is-blunt-and-futuristic-and-nicki-minaj-started-wearing-that/) [Lil Mama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-mama/) > [As kings are begotten and born like other men, it is to be presumed that they are of the human species; and perhaps, had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/as-kings-are-begotten-and-born-like-other-men-it-is-to-be-presumed/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Learn that every flatterer Lives at the flattered listeners cost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/learn-that-every-flatterer-lives-at-the-flattered-listeners-cost/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [Never permit yourself to indulge in cheap flattery, which often times means to merely satisfy the individuals vanity and sometimes to ingratiate the flatter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-b-lee/never-permit-yourself-to-indulge-in-cheap-flattery-which-often-times/) [Harold B. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-b-lee/) > [“Flattery is so necessary to all of us that we flatter one another to be flattered in return”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-bowen/flattery-is-so-necessary-to-all-of-us-that-we-flatter-one-another-to/) [Marjorie Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-bowen/) > [They do not abuse the king that flatter him. For flattery is the bellows blows up sin; The thing the which is flattered, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/they-do-not-abuse-the-king-that-flatter-him-for-flattery-is-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Money is the sincerest of all flattery. Women love to be flattered. So do men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/money-is-the-sincerest-of-all-flattery-women-love-to-be-flattered-so/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Some indeed there are who profess to despise all flattery, but even these are nevertheless to be flattered, by being told that they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/some-indeed-there-are-who-profess-to-despise-all-flattery-but-even/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Should the poor be flattered? No; let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp, and crook the pregnant hinges of the knee where thrift may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/should-the-poor-be-flattered-no-let-the-candied-tongue-lick-absurd/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Imitation is the highest form of flattery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/imitation-is-the-highest-form-of-flattery/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [He that loves to be flattered is worthy o' the flatterer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/he-that-loves-to-be-flattered-is-worthy-o-the-flatterer/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Flattered quotes > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. 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If you wish to please, you will find it wiser…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/it-is-a-very-high-mind-to-which-gratitude-is-not-a-painful-sensation/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [“Flattered as I am that you count me among the beautiful people, Barrons, allow me to point out that I’m still alive. I encountered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/flattered-as-i-am-that-you-count-me-among-the-beautiful-people/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [So I'm an ace?' Will grinned. 'I'm flattered Halt, flattered. I had no idea you regarded me so highly.' 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Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-jay/there-s-something-weird-about-that-guy-she-whispers-as-she-slips-into/) [Stacey Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-jay/) [Browse all 271 Flattered quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattered/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Pope had been flattered till he thought himself one of the moving powers of the system of life. 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