Air Quote by W. Somerset Maugham
“We didn't think much in the air corps of a fellow who wangled a cushy job out of his C.O. by buttering him up. It was hard for me to believe that God thought much of a man who tried to wangle salvation by fulsome flattery. I should have thought the worship most pleasing to him was to do your best according to your lights.”
About This Quote
Source Short story: "The Man Who Would Be King", 1935
Flattery and manipulation are ineffective paths to divine favor; true merit lies in sincere effort aligned with personal conscience.
In simple terms: Flattery doesn’t earn divine approval; genuine work does.
Key Takeaway
Seek authentic purpose, not shortcuts.
Themes
ethics
integrity
spirituality
Mood
contemplative
thoughtful
Type
literary
moral
When to use this quote
- career advancement
- personal growth
- spiritual reflection
Key Concepts
literature
morality
Questions to Reflect On
- What genuine actions reflect your values?
- Can you identify when you’re using flattery?
A Different Perspective
Relying on flattery can backfire and erode trust.
![“That the most excellent method he had found of going to GOD, was that of doing our common business without any view of pleasing men, [Gal. i. 10; Eph. vi. 5, 6.] and (as far as we are capable) purely for the love of GOD.” quote by Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/196/brother-lawrence-4215_business_that-the-most-excellent-method-he-had-fo_2376153.jpg)
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
![“[A]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air. And be careful what you swallow.” quote by Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/da8/dr-seuss-1224_advice_a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-f_6806.jpg)