--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He that loves to be flattered is worthy…" description: "\"He that loves to be flattered is worthy o' the flatterer.\" — William Shakespeare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/william-shakespeare-4_flattered_he-that-loves-to-be-flattered-is-worthy_213796.jpg" --- # He that loves to be flattered is worthy o' the flatterer. ![“He that loves to be flattered is worthy o' the flatterer.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/william-shakespeare-4_flattered_he-that-loves-to-be-flattered-is-worthy_213796.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/william-shakespeare-4_flattered_he-that-loves-to-be-flattered-is-worthy_213796.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/william-shakespeare-4_flattered_he-that-loves-to-be-flattered-is-worthy_213796.jpg) > “He that loves to be flattered is worthy o' the flatterer.” [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People who seek flattery are often the ones who can give it, creating a reciprocal dynamic of ego reinforcement. **In simple terms:** Flattery seekers become flatterers. Key Takeaway Be mindful of ego-driven relationships. Themes ego reciprocity power dynamics Mood cautious reflective Type observational critical When to use this quote - political courts - corporate networking - personal relationships - media interviews Key Concepts psychology social exchange self-esteem Questions to Reflect On - Do you flatter yourself or others for gain? - How does this dynamic affect trust? A Different Perspective Flattery can be manipulative and insincere. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Flatterer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flatterer/) [Flattery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattery/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [If he be so resolved, I can o'ersway him; for he loves to hear That unicorns may be betrayed with trees And bears with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-he-be-so-resolved-i-can-o-ersway-him-for-he-loves-to-hear-that/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Nay, do not think I flatter. For what advancement may I hope from thee, That no revenue hast but thy good spirits To feed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/nay-do-not-think-i-flatter-for-what-advancement-may-i-hope-from-thee/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Flattery leads to vulgarity; the flatterer is despised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nachman-of-breslov/flattery-leads-to-vulgarity-the-flatterer-is-despised/) [Nachman of Breslov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nachman-of-breslov/) > [Take care how you listen to the voice of the flatterer, who, in return for his little stock, expects to derive from you considerable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/take-care-how-you-listen-to-the-voice-of-the-flatterer-who-in-return/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [The flatterer easily insinuates himself into the closet, while honest merit stands shivering in the hall or antechamber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/the-flatterer-easily-insinuates-himself-into-the-closet-while-honest/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) > [Were there no fools, there would be no flatterers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/were-there-no-fools-there-would-be-no-flatterers/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [ Flatterers are the worst kind of enemies. \[Lat., Pessimum genus inimicorum laudantes.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/flatterers-are-the-worst-kind-of-enemies-lat-pessimum-genus/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [The art of flatterers is to take advantage of the foibles of the great, to foster their errors, and never to give advice which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/the-art-of-flatterers-is-to-take-advantage-of-the-foibles-of-the/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Persons who discover a flatterer, do not always disapprove him, because he imagines them considerable enough to deserve his applications.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/persons-who-discover-a-flatterer-do-not-always-disapprove-him-because/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [Flatterers are the worst kind of traitors, for they will strengthen thy imperfections, encourage thee in all evils, correct thee in nothing, but so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/flatterers-are-the-worst-kind-of-traitors-for-they-will-strengthen/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [But it is hard to know them from friends, they are so obsequious and full of protestations; for a wolf resembles a dog, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/but-it-is-hard-to-know-them-from-friends-they-are-so-obsequious-and/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) ## More by William Shakespeare > [Let us kill all lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-kill-all-lawyers/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-tiger-s-heart-wrapped-in-a-woman-s-hide/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Divers philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/divers-philosophers-hold-that-the-lips-is-parcel-of-the-mouth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/short-time-seems-long-in-sorrow-s-sharp-sustaining/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs; Being purg'd, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; Being vex'd, a sea nourish'd with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-is-a-smoke-made-with-the-fume-of-sighs-being-purg-d-a-fire/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep’st so sound. Julius Caesar (2.1.248-251)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thou-hast-no-figures-nor-no-fantasies-which-busy-care-draws-in-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Truth needs no color; beauty, no pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/truth-needs-no-color-beauty-no-pencil/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Have you not heard it said full oft, A woman's nay doth stand for naught?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/have-you-not-heard-it-said-full-oft-a-woman-s-nay-doth-stand-for/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Omittance is no quittance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/omittance-is-no-quittance/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Yes, madam: yet I cannot choose but laugh, To think it should leave crying and say 'Ay.' And yet, I warrant, it had upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/yes-madam-yet-i-cannot-choose-but-laugh-to-think-it-should-leave/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-take-thee-at-thy-word-call-me-but-love-and-i-ll-be-new-baptized/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Explore all 5,604 William Shakespeare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## 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. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [If anybody sounds like me... everyone knows me, I'm flattered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-dream/if-anybody-sounds-like-me-everyone-knows-me-i-m-flattered/) [The-Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-dream/) > [So I'm one of the few celebrities that got to do a repeat performance on 'The Simpsons,' which I'm very flattered by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-yankovic/so-i-m-one-of-the-few-celebrities-that-got-to-do-a-repeat-performance/) [Al Yankovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-yankovic/) > [It is a very high mind to which gratitude is not a painful sensation. 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.' Halt gave him a long-suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/so-i-m-an-ace-will-grinned-i-m-flattered-halt-flattered-i-had-no-idea/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [The common people feel themselves oppressed by the grasping of some, and their vanity is flattered by others. Fired with evil passions, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/the-common-people-feel-themselves-oppressed-by-the-grasping-of-some/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [I would be flattered and honored to be considered for any position where I could serve my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/i-would-be-flattered-and-honored-to-be-considered-for-any-position/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [I'm flattered anytime someone has taken enough time to listen to me and make a connection to someone else, honestly. I feel very lucky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-worsham/i-m-flattered-anytime-someone-has-taken-enough-time-to-listen-to-me/) [Charlie Worsham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-worsham/) > [our republican ideas cannot be consistently carried out while women are excluded from any share in the government. ... Any class of human beings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-m-child/our-republican-ideas-cannot-be-consistently-carried-out-while-women/) [Lydia M. Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-m-child/) > [I'm very flattered when people I respect like my work. It's like a dream of a little kid when somebody I idolised likes my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-m-very-flattered-when-people-i-respect-like-my-work-it-s-like-a/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [I always was flattered when people would say I would do whatever it took for the team. 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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 ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He that loves to be flattered is worthy o' the flatterer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/he-that-loves-to-be-flattered-is-worthy-o-the-flatterer/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Flattered" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/he-that-loves-to-be-flattered-is-worthy-o-the-flatterer/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/william-shakespeare-4_flattered_he-that-loves-to-be-flattered-is-worthy_213796.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/william-shakespeare-4_flattered_he-that-loves-to-be-flattered-is-worthy_213796.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c77/william-shakespeare-4_flattered_he-that-loves-to-be-flattered-is-worthy_213796.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He that loves to be flattered is worthy o' the flatterer.” — William Shakespeare", "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": "William Shakespeare", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He that loves to be flattered...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/he-that-loves-to-be-flattered-is-worthy-o-the-flatterer/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/he-that-loves-to-be-flattered-is-worthy-o-the-flatterer/#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 } } ] } ```