--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ancient gentleman who has seen the…" description: "\"The ancient gentleman who has seen the world, who is profoundly experienced, and much too deep to be the dupe of an age so shallow as this, is to be wo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0f/samuel-laman-blanchard-25787_admiring_the-ancient-gentleman-who-has-seen-the-w_1190231.jpg" --- # The ancient gentleman who has seen the world, who is… ![“The ancient gentleman who has seen the world, who is profoundly experienced, and much too deep to be the dupe of an age so shallow as this, is to be won by an admiring glance at the brilliancy of his knee-buckle; praise his very pigtail, and you may lead him by it.” quote by Samuel Laman Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0f/samuel-laman-blanchard-25787_admiring_the-ancient-gentleman-who-has-seen-the-w_1190231.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0f/samuel-laman-blanchard-25787_admiring_the-ancient-gentleman-who-has-seen-the-w_1190231.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0f/samuel-laman-blanchard-25787_admiring_the-ancient-gentleman-who-has-seen-the-w_1190231.jpg) > “The ancient gentleman who has seen the world, who is profoundly experienced, and much too deep to be the dupe of an age so shallow as this, is to be won by an admiring glance at the brilliancy of his knee-buckle; praise his very pigtail, and you may lead him by it.” [Samuel Laman Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-laman-blanchard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote mocks shallow admiration, suggesting that even a wise, experienced person can be manipulated by trivial compliments. **In simple terms:** Flattery can control even the most discerning people. Key Takeaway Use sincere respect, not shallow praise. Themes pride manipulation wisdom superficiality Mood cautious reflective critical Type satirical observational cautionary When to use this quote - political negotiation - business networking - personal relationships - leadership - marketing Key Concepts ego social influence psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure compliments are genuine? - When can flattery become harmful? A Different Perspective Superficial compliments may backfire if the target sees through them. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) [Pigtails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pigtails/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [A gentleman is often seen, but very seldom heard to laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/a-gentleman-is-often-seen-but-very-seldom-heard-to-laugh/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“You was always too busy pullen' little girls' pigtails when I give you the Holy Sperit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/you-was-always-too-busy-pullen-little-girls-pigtails-when-i-give-you/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Dachshunds have their own agenda and can be stubborn about seeing their plans through to completion. What Rosie lacked in consistency, she made up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/dachshunds-have-their-own-agenda-and-can-be-stubborn-about-seeing/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [If you are a woman and you bought this book for practical tips on how to make it in a male-dominated workplace, here they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/if-you-are-a-woman-and-you-bought-this-book-for-practical-tips-on-how/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [The following doodle: a girl with pigtails is bent under the weight of a gigantic boulder. Her cheeks puff out, and her rounded lips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/the-following-doodle-a-girl-with-pigtails-is-bent-under-the-weight-of/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [I'm a phallus in pigtails, and there's blood on my nose, and my tissue is rotting where the rats chew my bones. And my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-m-a-phallus-in-pigtails-and-there-s-blood-on-my-nose-and-my-tissue/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [A book on cheap paper does not convince. 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The adoption of the foundling establishes its consanguinity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-laman-blanchard/when-the-error-is-universal-it-is-supposed-to-end-the-adoption-of-the/) [Samuel Laman Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-laman-blanchard/) [Explore all 22 Samuel Laman Blanchard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-laman-blanchard/) ## More Admiring quotes > [The hidden child wants to be able to participate and to co-create in art, rather than being simply an admiring viewer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-morgenstern/the-hidden-child-wants-to-be-able-to-participate-and-to-co-create-in/) [Christian Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-morgenstern/) > [Hillary Clinton was in rural America during the Iowa caucuses, but I think the nature of a campaign makes it more difficult once you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/hillary-clinton-was-in-rural-america-during-the-iowa-caucuses-but-i/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [“Start admiring and noticing your beautiful nature, body, talents, and intelligence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-vickers/start-admiring-and-noticing-your-beautiful-nature-body-talents-and/) [Lee Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-vickers/) > [The Bible is to us what the star was to the wise men; but if we spend all our time in gazing upon it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-bible-is-to-us-what-the-star-was-to-the-wise-men-but-if-we-spend/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [There never was a liar that had not a spot in him where he could not help admiring truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/there-never-was-a-liar-that-had-not-a-spot-in-him-where-he-could-not/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [I've grown up watching and admiring Norm. 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I promise , I would be simply admiring my shoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-pheona/if-i-ever-let-my-head-fall-i-promise-i-would-be-simply-admiring-my/) [Mercy Pheona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-pheona/) > [I take all day to climb mountains and then spend about 10 minutes at the top admiring the view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-take-all-day-to-climb-mountains-and-then-spend-about-10-minutes-at/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [Great geniuses have the shortest biographies. Their cousins can tell you nothing about them. 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